Thailand is gearing up for a major shift in its clean energy strategy with plans to subsidize solar installations, aiming to reduce household electricity costs and bolster a domestic solar supply chain. This initiative is driving a significant increase in solar panel imports, which surged by 88.7% to reach $426.7 million in the first seven months of 2026, as per data from Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and Customs Department.
The vast majority of these imports, accounting for 99.3%, originate from China, with the value reaching $423.9 million—a 107.1% increase from the previous year. Other suppliers like Singapore and Hong Kong only contribute around 0.3% each to Thailand’s total solar panel import value, highlighting the dominant role of China in this sector.
The surge in imports comes as Thailand rolls out an ambitious household solar installation programme. This initiative plans to provide subsidies of approximately THB50,000 per household, initially targeting one million homes. The government is considering expanding the program to include up to 1.5 million households, encouraging both rooftop and ground-mounted solar solutions.
In parallel with boosting solar installations, the Thai government is also focused on nurturing local solar manufacturing. Efforts are underway with the Ministry of Labour to train workers in various aspects of solar technology, including assembly, installation, and maintenance. Discussions with the Board of Investment are also in progress to potentially reduce duties on necessary production inputs that aren’t available domestically.
These combined efforts are part of Thailand’s broader plan to foster a sustainable clean-energy ecosystem, supporting not only the immediate financial relief for households but also the long-term development of a homegrown solar industry.