India Levies Anti-Dumping Duty on EVA Sheet for Solar Module

The anti-dumping duty imposed shall be effective for a period of five years.

The Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance has imposed an anti-dumping duty on the import of ‘Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)’ sheet used in the manufacture of solar cells and modules from China, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Thailand.

In a notification, the Department of Revenue said that after considering the recommendations of the commerce ministry’s investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), it is imposing the duty, which is in the range of $537 to $1,559 per MT, on imports of “Ethylene Vinyl Acetate sheet for solar module” being exported by these four nations. 

“The anti-dumping duty imposed shall be effective for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier),” it has said. 

Following a complaint by a domestic company, the directorate had initiated the probe in April last year.  In its probe, it had concluded that imposition of the duty is required to offset dumping and injury caused by dumped imports from China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. 

“Imposition of duty is required to offset dumping and injury caused by dumped imports from China PR, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. However, having found that the volume of imports from South Korea was below de-minimus level during the period of the investigation it is appropriate to terminate the investigation against South Korea in terms of Rule 14(d),” it added.

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In February, the DGTR suggested that the purpose of anti-dumping duties is to eliminate injury caused to the domestic industry by the unfair trade practices of dumping and to re-establish open and fair competition in the Indian market.

The petition was filed by Renewsys India Pvt.Ltd., with the claim that there is no known difference between the EVA sheets imported from the above-mentioned countries and that produced by the petitioner, and the consumers can use the two interchangeably.

EVA sheets are used for encapsulation of solar PV cells performing adhesion and cushioning functions. This is one of the essential components which keeps the glass, cell, and back sheet integrated and support the module mechanically during its service lifetime. And, Renewsys “the petitioner,” said that it produces EVA sheets in all types of widths and thicknesses as required by the module manufacturers.