ENGINEERINGNET.EU -- EU Pro Sun, an industry association, claimed in its complaint lodged on 25 July 2012 that 'solar panels and their key components imported from China enter the European market at prices below market value'.
The products covered by the investigation are solar cells and solar wafers. In order to produce a solar panel, solar wafers are converted into cells and then cells are assembled together into modules, i.e. panels. Some producers have integrated production covering all three segments, whilst others produce only wafers, cells and/or modules.
In terms of import value affected, this is the most significant anti-dumping complaint the European Commission has received so far: in 2011, China exported solar panels and their key components worth around €21 billion to the EU.
BACKGROUND
China is the world's largest producer of solar panels. Approximately 65% of all solar panels are produced in China. The EU is China's main export market, accounting for around 80% of all Chinese export sales.
