Amid a global push for renewable energy, Thailand is significantly boosting its solar panel imports to support an ambitious solar installation program. Data from Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and Customs Department reveals an 88.7% increase in solar panel imports, reaching $426.7 million in the first seven months of 2026. Notably, China is the dominant supplier, contributing a staggering 99.3% of these imports.
The surge in imports from China, which alone accounted for $423.9 million, represents a 107.1% jump compared to the same period last year. This comes as Thailand gears up for a large-scale household solar installation initiative. The program aims to subsidize solar panel installations for up to one million households, with potential expansion to 1.5 million, offering subsidies of about THB50,000 per household.
The Thai government is also taking steps to enhance its domestic solar manufacturing capabilities. This includes collaboration with the Ministry of Labour to provide training 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 locally available, a move that could further bolster Thailand’s clean-energy sector.
Through these efforts, Thailand hopes to stimulate the adoption of rooftop and ground-mounted solar systems. The initiative is expected to help reduce household electricity costs while fostering the growth of a domestic clean-energy supply chain, aligning with broader environmental and economic goals.
While Singapore and Hong Kong remain minor contributors to Thailand’s solar panel imports, each representing about 0.3% of the total value, the focus remains on leveraging Chinese imports to meet the nation’s renewable energy targets. This strategic move underscores Thailand’s commitment to transitioning towards sustainable energy solutions.