Shanghai Photovoltaic Entrepôt Trade: The Biggest Loophole in Global Carbon Neutrality

When the global carbon neutrality goal collides with trade barriers, a "game under the sun" is quietly taking place in the containers at Shanghai Port. Mr. Zhang recently discovered that the German brand solar panel he purchased had the original label of "Made in Shanghai" hidden under the label. This is not an isolated case - Shanghai solar panel entrepôt trade has formed a gray industrial chain with an annual scale exceeding 20 billion yuan, becoming a special bridge connecting Chinese manufacturing with the overseas market.

In the warehouse of the Pudong Free Trade Zone, Ms. Li's team has to handle 3,000 "transformed" photovoltaic modules every day. Behind the outbreak of this trade model are the promotion of three key factors:

• Circumvention of Tariff Barriers: Europe and the United States impose an average anti-dumping tax of 47% on Chinese photovoltaic products, while entrepôt trade via Southeast Asia only requires a tariff of 5-8%
• Harvesting Brand Premium: After private labeling, the product price can be increased by 30-50%, still lower than the quotations of local manufacturers in Europe and the United States
• Advantages of the Logistics Hub: Shanghai Port can reach the major ports in the world within 48 hours, and the free trade zone provides a "one-day tour" customs clearance service

The compliance director of Zhongshitong Trade revealed that in 2023, 17 batches of entrepôt photovoltaic modules have been seized by the European Union due to origin fraud. Typical risks include:

• In entrepôt trade in Vietnam, a 35% value-added rate is required, but in reality, most only complete packaging replacement
• The US Customs has launched "PV Module DNA Testing" to identify the real origin through silicon material traceability
• The problems of "inconsistency in three documents" (invoice, bill of lading, and certificate of origin) for the entrepôt third country

With the mass production of N-type TOPCon batteries, Shanghai manufacturers are gradually shifting from low-end entrepôt trade to technology exports:

• The Malaysian factory has started to adopt the core battery pieces provided by Shanghai
• The Turkish assembly plant has introduced Shanghai's fully automatic packaging production line
• Enterprises such as Zhongshitong have established a new model of "overseas warehouses + local services"

When the German customer asks Mr. Zhang to provide a carbon footprint certification, the rules of this industry are changing. Perhaps the real way out lies in: Replacing price advantages with technological barriers and breaking through trade barriers with green certifications. Next time when you see the solar panel on the roof, you might think - how many countries did it cross to reach there?