Thailand’s imports of solar panels have skyrocketed, increasing by 88.7% year-on-year to a total of $426.7 million in the first seven months of 2026, as reported by Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and Customs Department. A significant portion of these imports, amounting to 99.3%, originated from China, highlighting the country’s dominance in supplying Thailand’s solar energy needs.
Chinese imports alone reached $423.9 million, marking a notable increase of 107.1% compared to the previous year. Other suppliers like Singapore and Hong Kong contributed minimally, each representing around 0.3% of Thailand’s total solar panel import value. This surge in imports aligns with Thailand’s ambitious plans to launch a household solar installation initiative, which aims to provide subsidies of approximately THB50,000 per household.
The government targets one million households initially, with a potential expansion to 1.5 million. This program is designed to boost rooftop and ground-mounted solar installations, which could significantly reduce household electricity costs and foster the growth of a domestic clean-energy supply chain.
In parallel, Thailand is exploring ways to bolster its domestic solar manufacturing sector. Efforts include collaborations with the Ministry of Labour to train workers in solar panel assembly, installation, and maintenance. Additionally, discussions with the Board of Investment are underway to potentially reduce duties on production inputs that are not available within the country, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of local manufacturers.
