SolarWorld plans to take anti-dumping case to European Commission

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SolarWorld is planning to expand its fight against China-based solar module rivals currently being played out in the US to Europe. According to reports from German publication, Handelsblatt and reported by various news agencies, SolarWorld’s CEO, Frank Asbeck was said to be seeking support from other European-based companies to take an anti-dumping case to the European Commission’s competition agency.

Rumours of the move have been circling of such an action since SolarWorld and a group of unidentified companies filed a petition in the US on the same grounds last year.

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Asbeck was reported to have highlighted the massive inventory build in module seen last year as overcapacity hit the industry. Over 50% of solar modules are made in China, according to industry market analysts.

Rapid price declines across the PV supply chain in 2011 have led to quarterly financial losses since the second quarter of last year, as well as bankruptcies, factory closures and industry consolidation.

 

SolarWorld, recently halted production in the US in face of strong competition from Chinese imported modules and has reduced manufacturing capacity and halted wafer production in Germany. 
 
Only this week, the German Network operator released preliminary new PV system installation figures for 2011, noting 7.5GW of new PV systems were installed last year, with 3GW alone installed in December, 2011 a new monthly and annual record, despite FiT cuts of 15%. 

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