Recently, Eternit, a Brazilian rooftop photovoltaic solutions company, announced that it will halt production of its photovoltaic product line due to intense competition from Chinese photovoltaic components, making the business unsustainable.
In a statement to shareholders, Eternit revealed that the company had explored various options to enhance the competitiveness of its photovoltaic products. However, after in-depth analysis, the decision was made to exit the business. Eternit also added, “The company remains firmly committed to exploring new trends in the construction industry and will continue to provide related products within its building systems sector.”
Eternit entered the photovoltaic market in 2019, launching photovoltaic tile products and obtaining a green patent for “Photovoltaic Cell and Encapsulation Manufacturing Process” in 2022. In 2023, the company began selling fiber-cement photovoltaic roof tiles certified by Brazil’s National Institute of Metrology, Quality, and Technology (Inmetro), which can be used interchangeably with traditional fiber-cement roof panels. However, according to local media InvestSustain, Eternit’s photovoltaic business has long been mired in losses, significantly impacting the company’s overall profitability. Eternit’s exit from the photovoltaic market reflects the severe challenges faced by Brazil’s photovoltaic industry in the face of competition from overseas manufacturers, prompting the government to take urgent measures.
Meanwhile, as major markets such as Europe and the United States adopt trade tariffs and other protective measures to support their domestic photovoltaic industries, Brazil has become one of the important export destinations for Chinese photovoltaic components. Recently, the European photovoltaic industry, particularly in Germany, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the competitive impact of low-priced photovoltaic products from China. As a result, several companies in the European photovoltaic supply chain have closed their businesses or suspended operations, awaiting government support measures.
