Borosil Renewables Exits Germany, Refocuses on India's Booming Solar Market
Borosil Renewables has declared its German subsidiary insolvent, booking a ₹325.91 crore loss. The company is exiting the European market due to challenges from Chinese manufacturers and refocusing on India's solar industry. Borosil's standalone revenue in India grew by 37% year-on-year to ₹332.26 crore in Q1, with EBITDA surging 211% to ₹92.53 crore. The company announced a ₹950 crore expansion plan to build two new 300-tonne furnaces at its Bharuch facility, aiming to address India's solar glass supply gap. This move is supported by favorable domestic policies, including anti-dumping duties on Chinese and Vietnamese solar glass imports.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Borosil Renewables , a leading solar glass manufacturer, has announced a strategic shift in its operations, exiting the German market and doubling down on India's burgeoning solar industry. This move comes after the company faced significant challenges in its European venture, resulting in a substantial one-time loss.
German Subsidiary Declared Insolvent
Borosil Renewables has declared its German subsidiary, GMB Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg GmbH, insolvent, booking a one-time loss of ₹325.91 crore. The company had acquired this German solar glass facility in 2022 with high hopes of expanding into the European market. However, the venture faced severe headwinds when Chinese manufacturers flooded the European market with over 80 GW worth of ultra-cheap solar modules.
Market Disruption and Financial Impact
The influx of Chinese modules caused a dramatic drop in prices, with module costs plummeting from 25 cents to below 10 cents. This market disruption led to monthly losses of ₹8.50-9.00 crore for Borosil's German operations. Despite attempts to mitigate losses and appeals for policy support from German authorities, the company found no reprieve, ultimately leading to the decision to exit the market.
Refocusing on India's Solar Market
In the wake of its European setback, Borosil Renewables is now refocusing entirely on India's solar market, where it sees significant growth potential. The company's standalone revenue in India grew by 37% year-on-year to ₹332.26 crore in Q1. More impressively, EBITDA surged by 211% to ₹92.53 crore, with margins reaching a robust 27.80%.
Favorable Policy Environment in India
The company's renewed focus on the Indian market comes at an opportune time. In December, India imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese and Vietnamese solar glass imports, creating a more level playing field for domestic manufacturers. This policy move has improved domestic pricing to ₹135-140 per mm square, bolstering the prospects for local producers like Borosil Renewables.
Ambitious Expansion Plans
Capitalizing on the favorable domestic market conditions, Borosil Renewables has announced an ambitious ₹950 crore expansion plan. This initiative involves building two new 300-tonne furnaces at its Bharuch facility in Gujarat. The expansion will be funded through a combination of equity, internal accruals (₹650 crore), and debt (₹300 crore).
Addressing India's Solar Glass Supply Gap
The expansion targets a significant supply gap in India's solar glass market. Currently, domestic capacity stands at only 15 GW against a projected demand of 50 GW. With this expansion, Borosil Renewables aims to play a crucial role in meeting the country's growing demand for solar glass, supporting India's renewable energy goals.
Looking Ahead
While the company has officially exited its German operations, it remains open to future opportunities in Europe, should favorable policies emerge. For now, Borosil Renewables is firmly focused on capitalizing on India's solar boom, leveraging its strong domestic position and the supportive policy environment to drive growth and profitability.
In related news, the company recently received an advisory letter from the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. regarding a minor compliance issue related to the lock-in of pre-preferential shares. Borosil Renewables has assured that this advisory has no impact on its financial operations or other activities and has committed to exercising due diligence in future applications.
As India continues its push towards renewable energy, Borosil Renewables appears well-positioned to play a significant role in the country's solar glass supply chain, turning its European setback into an opportunity for domestic growth and expansion.
Historical Stock Returns for Borosil Renewables
1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
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+0.85% | -0.61% | +0.22% | +15.12% | +13.69% | +644.27% |