India starts anti-dumping probe into solar cells from China, US, Malaysia, Taiwan

Nov 28, 2012 - India's Directorate of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties of the Ministry of Commerce said in a notification it had kicked off an anti-dumping probe on imports of solar cells from China, the US, Malaysia and Taiwan.

The investigation was launched in response to a complaint filed by the Solar Manufacturers' Association on behalf of Indosolar Ltd (BOM:533257), Jupiter Solar Power Ltd and Websol Energy Systems (BOM:517498), alleging dumping of solar cells imported from these countries.

The directorate says in its notification that it had found sufficient evidence that local companies had been affected by dumped imports of solar cells from these countries.

The probe will cover the period from the start of 2011, to June 30, 2012. But the injury investigation will include the periods April 2008-March 2009, April 2009-March 2010, April 2010-March 2011 and the period of investigation, according to the notification.

The local content requirement imposed by India's government for the first phase of its National Solar Mission could not support the local industry, daily Hindu Business Line said on Wednesday. It did not include thin-film technology as it is not produced in India and most of the solar project developers chose thin-film panel imports, the paper said.

India's move adds to the growing trading tension in the sector. Recently, the US imposed anti-dumping duties of up to 250% on solar products from China and the European Commission (EC) launched an anti-dumping probe on solar product imports from the Asian country. In response, China recently started an investigation for dumping and subsidies into solar-grade polysilicon imports from the European Union, the US and South Korea.

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