Thailand solar imports jump as household scheme nears

Thailand imported US$426.7 million of solar panels in the first seven months of 2026, an 88.7% year-on-year rise as the government prepares a major household solar programme.

Figures cited by The Nation from the Ministry of Commerce and Customs Department show imports between January and July had already exceeded the US$388.9 million total recorded for all of 2025. Import values had fallen in both 2024 and 2025.

China supplies virtually all imported panels

China accounted for US$423.9 million, of imports during the January-July period. That represented 99.3% of Thailand's imported panel market and was 107.1% higher than in the same period last year.

Singapore and Hong Kong were distant suppliers, each providing around US$1.1 million worth of panels. Each held roughly 0.3% of the market.

China has dominated Thailand's panel supply for several years. Its exports to Thailand were valued at US$407.2 million in 2022, before reaching US$649.1 million in 2023, when total Thai solar-panel imports reached US$654.2 million.

Chinese imports then declined to US$422.3 million in 2024 and US$364.1 million last year.

Higher electricity-cost concerns, including energy-price pressure linked to the Middle East conflict, have encouraged homes and businesses to consider solar as a way of cutting longer-term bills.

Subsidy plan remains under development

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the Interior Ministry was preparing to submit the household solar proposal to the Finance Ministry.

The plan under discussion would provide about 50,000 baht to each participating household for rooftop or ground-mounted installations. Covering an initial one million households would require around 50 billion baht, rising to about 75 billion baht if expanded to 1.5 million homes.

Registration is expected to open around mid-October and run until the end of 2027, although the final scope has not been settled.

In a separate announcement on September 18, the government said the National Energy Policy Council had expanded its household solar framework to 10,000 megawatts, equivalent to roughly one million homes. Households would use generated power first, then sell surplus electricity to the grid at 2.20 baht per unit.

Grid purchases would be capped at 5 kilowatts per meter under 20-year contracts.

Factories could return to production

Ekniti said the government is working with the Labour Ministry to train Thai workers in solar assembly, installation and maintenance. It is also discussing with the Board of Investment lower duties on imported production inputs that cannot be made locally.

The government hopes seven to eight Thai factories with existing capacity can resume production for the domestic market and support a local renewable-energy supply chain.

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23 September 2026