China supplies 99.3% of Thailand’s surging solar panel imports

Thailand’s solar panel imports rose 88.7% year on year to US$426.7 million, or approximately THB14,934 million, in the first seven months of 2026, according to figures released by the Ministry of Commerce and the Customs Department. The increase marked a strong recovery after import values contracted in both 2024 and 2025.

The growth comes as the government prepares a household solar installation programme offering subsidies of approximately THB50,000 per household, initially targeting one million households with a possible expansion to 1.5 million. Rising electricity costs linked to the war in the Middle East have also prompted households and businesses to install rooftop solar systems to reduce their electricity bills over the longer term.

China accounts for almost all solar panel imports

China supplied almost all the solar panels imported by Thailand during January-July 2026. Imports from China totalled US$423.9 million, or approximately THB14,836.5 million, accounting for 99.3% of total import value and increasing 107.1% from the same period a year earlier.

Other suppliers accounted for only small shares. Imports from Singapore and Hong Kong were each valued at US$1.1 million, or THB38.5 million, representing approximately 0.3% of the total apiece.

China remained Thailand’s largest supplier throughout the five-year period from 2022 to 2026. In 2022, imports from China reached US$407.2 million, or THB14,252 million, out of total imports worth US$429.7 million. They then climbed to a record US$649.1 million, or THB22,718.5 million, in 2023, when Thailand’s total imports reached US$654.2 million.

Imports from China subsequently fell to US$422.3 million, or THB14,780.5 million, in 2024 and US$364.1 million, or THB12,743.5 million, in 2025. Total imports from all sources stood at US$388.9 million in 2025.

THB50,000 subsidy proposed for household installations

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the Interior Ministry was preparing to submit the household solar programme to the Finance Ministry for consideration late in the week or early the following week. The proposal would request THB50 billion under the emergency decree authorising THB400 billion in borrowing.

Under the proposed arrangements, the government would provide approximately THB50,000 per household for either rooftop or ground-mounted solar installations. The initial target is one million households, although an expansion to 1.5 million is being considered, which would raise the required budget to THB75 billion.

Registration is expected to open in mid-October 2026 and continue until the end of 2027.

Supporting Thai manufacturing and jobs

Ekniti said the government was also taking domestic production and job creation into account, working with the Ministry of Labour to provide Thai workers with training in solar panel assembly, installation and maintenance.

Discussions have also been held with the Board of Investment (BOI) on reducing customs duties on imported production inputs that cannot be manufactured domestically, such as solar cells. The aim is to help seven to eight existing factories in Thailand with the necessary production capability resume manufacturing for the domestic market.

The approach is intended to develop a domestic supply chain and improve competitiveness against imports from China. Although technological constraints mean some inputs will still need to be imported, the government aims to use the programme to create jobs and establish a sustainable clean-energy manufacturing base in Thailand.