India's solar module capacity outpaces cell production by fivefold, imports rise 18% in H1 2026
In the first half of 2026 India added 50.6 GW of solar module capacity but only 9.7 GW of cell capacity, widening the manufacturing gap and boosting cell imports by 18%.
According to Mercom India's H1 2026 State of Solar PV Manufacturing report, the country expanded solar module manufacturing by 50.6 GW, compared with just 9.7 GW of new cell capacity, creating a disparity of more than five to one. Cumulative module capacity reached 261.7 GW, while cell capacity stood at 36.6 GW by the end of June. This imbalance has driven an 18% rise in imports of cells and modules from the previous year, with cells accounting for 81% of those imports.
Gujarat remains the dominant hub, containing nearly 45% of module and over 36% of cell capacity; Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu follow with about 19% of total module capacity. Prices for Indian mono PERC modules slipped 1.8% quarter-on-quarter, and the top ten manufacturers now control roughly 60% of national capacity.
Why it matters
The gap between module and cell production forces India to rely more on imports, affecting energy security and domestic industry growth.
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