US Set Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Solar Products

Shutting out Chinese solar producers from the lucrative US market is as damaging to them as blocking out the sunlight. The US Department of Commerce on July 5 determined a new set of anti-dumping duties on solar products from China and Taiwan, with rates as high as 165.04%, adding to anti-dumping levies imposed in June. The move puts the Chinese solar sector in the shade. "We believe most of the Chinese solar producers will guide down their shipment due to the loss of US market, particularly Trina Solar (TSL.NYSE),Renesola (SOL.NYSE), Jinkosolar (JKS.NYSE) andSuntech (STPFQ.PNK),"Macquarie Securities said in a note this week. Chinese solar manufacturers could look for a sizable market to replace the US or relocate their production base to other countries, but both would take time. Chinese domestic demand is also not helpful due to limited quotas for installing solar farms and challenges to develop distributed power projects. Despite the government's efforts to increase capacity, Macquarie Securities expects the publishing and implementation of policy to expand capacity to take 3-6 months, making it irrelevant in the near term. Macquarie Securities said they prefer ChinaWindPowerGroup (0182.HKG) and China SingyesSolar Technologies (750.HKG) and investors should be cautious on Yingli Green Energy (YGE.NYSE), Trina Solar (TSL.NYSE), and GCL (3800.HKG).