Suntech voluntarily withdraws from EU solar module pricing agreement

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Suntech said it had given notice of its intention to withdraw on August 1, 2016, which was accepted by the EU on October 11, 2016.

Wuxi Suntech the PV module manufacturing arm of renewable energy group, Shunfeng International Clean Energy (SFCE) said it had voluntarily withdrawn from the European Union’s ‘Price Undertaking Agreement’ better known as the MIP (Minimum Import Price). 

Wuxi Suntech cited the falling global/EU average selling prices of PV modules in contrast to MIP not being adjusted inline with market price declines. 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

He Shuangquan, Executive President of Wuxi Suntech Power Co said: “We have always complied with the EU's MIP agreement and were hoping that this duty would expire after December 2015, but this did not happen. So we decided to withdraw from EU's Undertaking since it is not consistent with our company's business strategy. Being out of the Undertaking agreement gives us more flexibility to serve Suntech's EU customers with excellent reliable products and will help us to expand our business.”

Suntech said it had given notice of its intention to withdraw on August 1, 2016, which was accepted by the EU on October 11, 2016.

The company follows ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) members JinkoSolar, Trina Solar and JA Solar from withdrawing from the MIP in recent months as well as a host of smaller Chinese and Taiwanese producers from the undertaking. 

The European Commission is reviewing anti-dumping duties and policies with findings expected to be published in March, 2017.

16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2028 and beyond.
3 November 2026
Málaga, Spain
Understanding PV module supply to the European market in 2027. PV ModuleTech Europe 2026 is a two-day conference that tackles these challenges directly, with an agenda that addresses all aspects of module supplier selection; product availability, technology offerings, traceability of supply-chain, factory auditing, module testing and reliability, and company bankability.

Read Next

June 12, 2026
Lu Chuan, chairman of CHINT and its subsidiary Astronergy, outlines his prudent approach to navigating the difficulties facing China's PV manufacturers.
June 11, 2026
The European Union has launched an investment platform to expand renewable energy, clean technology manufacturing and electricity networks across the Mediterranean region.
June 10, 2026
JA has dropped ‘solar’ from its name to reflect its shift from PV manufacturing to a wider clean energy technology and services brief.
June 10, 2026
The EC has approved a €23 billion (US$26.5 billion) support scheme to deploy more than 37.15GW of renewable energy capacity in Italy.
June 9, 2026
Sun.store's latest PV Index found that the PV Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) increased to 70 in May from 66 in April 2026.
June 8, 2026
US solar installer SUNation Energy and merchant cell manufacturer Suniva have agreed to merge to create an integrated platform combining US-based solar manufacturing with residential and commercial installation services.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
June 30, 2026
Sacramento, California
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
August 25, 2026
São Paulo, Brazil
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 1, 2026
Mexico City, Mexico
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 9, 2026