In what may substantially increase duty on solar equipment imports largely from countries such as china the director general of trade remedies dgtr in the commerce ministry has favoured continued imposition of safeguard duty on imports of solar cells whether or not assembled in modules or panels.
Import duty on solar panels in india from china.
India imports 8 000 10 000 megawatts of solar modules each year of which close to 90 per cent is from china.
Solar cells and modules are currently exempt from basic customs duty bcd on imports.
The indian government has extended import duties on chinese solar equipment until july 2021 to encourage local manufacturing.
India s federal commerce ministry said a 14 9 percent duty would be levied on solar equipment imports for six months beginning 30 july and it will remain in force until 28 january next year.
In a bid to encourage domestic manufacturing india will increase import duty on solar equipment down the value chain in the coming years power minister r k singh said on thursday.
India had imposed safeguards duty of up to 25 per cent on solar cell imports from china and malaysia in july last year.