Thailand defends solar industry against China dependency claims

Thailand's government has responded to reports regarding its heavy reliance on Chinese solar technology. Customs data from January to July 2026 indicates that China accounted for 99.3% of the value of solar panel imports into Thailand, totaling approximately US$423.9 million out of a total import value of US$426.7 million.

The Thai Prime Minister's Office clarified that this figure represents the composition of imported goods rather than the total share of all solar panels used within the country or the overall health of the domestic industry. Officials emphasized that Thailand maintains a robust domestic production base, with 32 investment projects from 22 companies currently underway.

These domestic operations cover the entire production process, including wafers, solar cells, panels, and inverters. The government noted that these projects have a combined production capacity exceeding 49,000 megawatt-peak per year and utilize approximately 26.68 billion baht worth of domestic raw materials and components annually, fostering a local supply chain.