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EU Solar Industry Calls for CBAM on Chinese Imports - News and Statistics

IndexBox · last updated

Sep 3, 2025

EU Solar Lobby Demands Carbon Cost Parity with Chinese Imports

The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) has urged the European Commission to expand the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to cover solar photovoltaic modules, mounting structures, and trackers, according to a report by pv magazine. This move aims to address a competitive imbalance where European manufacturers face carbon costs that Chinese exporters avoid. Although the steel and aluminum used in these structures are covered by CBAM, the finished solar energy systems are not, creating a regulatory gap.

The council argues that this omission grants Chinese-made modules a significant price advantage, as they are not subject to the same carbon pricing rules that apply to materials imported into the EU for domestic production. Data from the IndexBox platform indicates that the influx of solar components from markets with less stringent environmental regulations has intensified price competition within the European market.

Extending CBAM to cover these finished goods is deemed both practical and feasible, as the solar industry already maintains detailed emissions documentation and lifecycle assessments for its products. The European Commission has confirmed that the full implementation of CBAM is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

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  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

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    2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
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    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

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    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
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  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

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    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
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  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)

  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
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    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)

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    The Largest Destinations for Exports

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    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
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    • United States
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    • Japan
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    • Republic of Korea
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    • Colombia
    • Denmark
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    • Malaysia
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  12. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2024
    5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    8. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    11. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)

  13. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Consumption, by Country, 2024
    4. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    5. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    6. Market Size and Growth, By Product
    7. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
    8. Exports and Growth, By Product
    9. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
    10. Production Volume and Growth
    11. Exports and Growth
    12. Export Prices and Growth
    13. Market Size and Growth
    14. Per Capita Consumption
    15. Imports and Growth
    16. Import Prices
    17. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    18. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    19. Production, by Country, 2024
    20. Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    21. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    22. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    26. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    27. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    28. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    32. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
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