Ethiopia: U.S. Customs Releases Ethiopia-Made Solar Cell Shipments After Supply Chain Review

What the report says

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released shipments of solar cells made at a Japanese company’s facility in Ethiopia after reviewing the firm’s supply chain records, according to Addis Standard’s report of the development. The article said TOYO Co., Ltd. announced on 29 October that U.S. authorities completed their review after the company provided documentation on the traceability of materials used in production, including polysilicon and wafers.

TOYO, which is headquartered in Japan, said it cooperated with the review and supplied information intended to show where its inputs came from. The company operates a manufacturing site in Ethiopia and also has a facility in Humble, Texas. It is seeking certification under the U.S. Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program, which focuses on supply chain security and import compliance.

The shipment release comes amid wider U.S. scrutiny of solar imports linked to Ethiopia. Addis Standard reported earlier this year that the U.S. Department of Commerce opened an investigation into whether some solar cell producers in Ethiopia were avoiding American duties on Chinese solar products. That case, which remains ongoing, has drawn attention to the origin of key inputs and the way solar modules are assembled for export.

The development underscores the growing importance of documentation and traceability in the global solar supply chain, especially for manufacturers operating across several countries and selling into the U.S. market.