From 2006 to 2009, the solar glass industry saw an annual growth rate of about 40 to 60 percent.

In 2008, China's solar glass annual production capacity reached about 486,000 metric tons with 24 production lines, with the country becoming the largest producer of solar glass in the world.

"As the Chinese government continues to make efforts to expand the domestic market for photovoltaic solar products and to encourage distributed solar generation projects, domestic demand for solar glass will grow," said Meng. "In fact, the country's solar glass output currently cannot meet the domestic demand."

Last year, China's solar panel output reached about 23 gigawatts, a 2 gW increase compared with the previous year, according to Meng.

"Although China doubled its solar panel output in 2011 compared with 2010, the increase last year amid the background of the trade disputes, which severely affected the country's exports, has shown the potential of the industry in China," he said.

The Ministry of Commerce said it deeply regrets the EU's decision to start the probe into China's solar panel products.

The solar glass investigation was launched based on political considerations rather than pure trade disputes, said Meng.

dujuan@chinadaily.com.cn

 

Related Readings

China's solar power companies forecast losses

Anti-dumping penalty to hurt EU economy

Year-ender: trade disputes

China's solar products exports drop sharply