The Indian Ministry of Finance has imposed an anti-dumping duty on tempered glass (solar glass) imported from China in the range of $64.04 per metric ton (MT) to $136.21/MT.

The ruling follows the recommendation made by the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties (DGAD) on June 20, 2017 and the final tariffs imposed by the Ministry of Finance were the same as recommenced by DGAD. The petition was filed by Gujarat Borosil Limited.

“This result is a good sign for manufacturers in the upcoming antidumping case filed by the Indian Solar Manufacturers Association against solar imports from China, Taiwan, and Malaysia. DGAD also recently recommended imposition of an antidumping duty on imports of wind turbine castings from China,” said Priya Sanjay, Managing Director of Mercom India.

According to the government notification, the tariff was imposed on solar glass with a minimum of 90.5 percent transmission having a thickness not exceeding 4.2 mm (including tolerance of 0.2 mm) and where at least one dimension exceeds 1,500 mm, whether coated or uncoated.

The solar glass with thickness 3.2 mm and 4 mm is generally used in solar photovoltaic panels and solar thermal applications. The DGAD in its investigation found that there was no material difference in solar glass exported from China and the same product produced by the Indian industry. It found that solar glass produced domestically was comparable to the imported product in terms of physical characteristics, production technology, and manufacturing process, functions and uses, product specifications, distribution and marketing, and the two are technically and commercially substitutable.

After examining the volume and price effects of imports of solar glass from China and its impact on the domestic industry, DGAD concluded that the dumped imports of solar glass from China increased significantly throughout the investigation period in absolute terms.

When it came to the price effect on account of imports of solar glass from China, DGAD’s comparison of the landed values with the non-injurious prices of the domestic Industry revealed significant price underselling.

With regard to consequent impact of the dumped imports on the domestic industry, DGAD concluded that the performance remained negative with respect to profit, return on investment, and cash flow. These findings led DGAD to conclude that the domestic industry has suffered material injury during the period of investigation.

The final conclusion was based on the facts that solar glass exported to India from China were below its associated normal value; the domestic industry suffered material injury and the material injury has been caused by the dumped imports of the subject goods from subject countries.

Based on these findings, DGAD recommended antidumping duty on solar glass to the Ministry of Finance, which was accepted at the tariff rates below:

These are turbulent times for Chinese manufacturers. The Suniva case is underway in the United States, the DGAD is carrying out an anti-dumping investigation on solar imports from China, Taiwan and Malaysia in India and Turkey imposed anti-dumping duty on Chinese solar imports in April 2017.