The first half of each year is a traditional off-season for the photovoltaic (PV) industry, but since the beginning of this year the photovoltaic industry cluster in Suxi Town, Yiwu has been busy all the time. Many PV products such as solar cells and modules are being packaged around the clock and sent to Europe, America, and some countries of Association of Southeast Asian Nations. According to Yiwu Customs, from January to June this year Yiwu’s PV industry exported solar cells and other products with a total value of 15.21 billion RMB. This is an increase of 336.3% over the same period last year.

On the intelligent production line of Trina Solar (Yiwu) Technology Co., in Suxi, workers are busy with export orders for PV modules. In terms of PV cell conversion efficiency and module output power, Trina Solar has surpassed the world record 22 times, and its products are very popular in the international market. In the second quarter of last year, the company achieved full production and the production efficiency was fully achieved. This year’s output is very likely to reach 8GW as the annual output reached 6.5GW last year.

According to Ma Xiao’an, head of customs affairs of the Yiwu-based Trina Solar Technology Co., the pandemic has caused poor logistics for raw materials, and the importing countries have changed policies on PV products greatly. To help companies achieve positive export growth, Yiwu customs provided early warning notices and policy guidance. From January to June this year the export value reached 5.87 bn RMB. This is an increase of 220% year on year.

Since the beginning of this year, the policies of major countries and regions for exporting PV products have changed frequently: the United States will launch an investigation into Chinese solar panel manufacturers, the EU Council passed a new policy on carbon tariffs in March, and India issued a new policy on PV taxation. More and more uncertainties appear in the export business. As such, Yiwu Customs collects relevant industry policies to inform companies in a timely manner, provides all-around one-stop service and guidance, and assists companies to formulate technical trade measures and plans. At the same time, Yiwu Customs has also promoted the technology of self-printing certificates of origin and instructs companies to make good use of the RCEP policy dividends without leaving their own offices. This effectively reduces export costs.

To date, the Yiwu PV industry cluster has brought together several leading PV companies such as JinkoSolar, JA Solar, Trina Solar, Risen Energy, Aiko Solar. These companies have a production capacity of more than 100GW and form a relatively complete industrial chain. It means that Yiwu’s PV industry develops rapidly. According to the industry characteristics of photovoltaic companies, Yiwu Customs has formulated a cultivation and certification plan to build an authorized economic operator (AEO) system to ensure the trade safety management for the photovoltaic industry cluster in Suxi. At present, Trina Solar (Yiwu) Technology Co. has completed various preparations for AEO certification with the assistance of Yiwu Customs. They have comprehensively improved the level of trade safety management. It is expected that after passing the advanced AEO certification, the PV companies will enjoy the convenience of customs clearance with 48 countries and regions in 22 economies that have signed mutual recognition AEO arrangements with China. Their global market competitiveness will improve even further. (By Wu Fengyu, translated by Wei Han, edited by Daniel Haws)