DGFT Mandates Import Registration for Solar & Wind Equipment from November 2025 | SolSetu
DGFT Mandates Import Registration for Solar & Wind Equipment from 1 November 2025
Quick take: The DGFT’s new REEIMS rule — mandatory registration for solar and wind equipment imports from 1 November 2025 — will affect procurement timelines, customs clearance and supply-chain planning for vendors, EPCs and domestic manufacturers.
New Delhi: India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has announced that with effect from 1 November 2025 all imports of specified solar and wind equipment must be pre-registered in the new Renewable Energy Equipment Import Monitoring System (REEIMS). The move — framed as part of broader Make in India renewable initiative goals — aims to increase traceability and customs clearance compliance while supporting domestic solar module and wind-component production.
What importers must do: REEIMS registration and timelines
Under the notification, importers will need to register shipments of key items — PV modules, inverters, wind tower components, and other balance-of-system equipment — in REEIMS prior to customs clearance. The registration process will require HS-code level declarations, supplier origin details, and shipment schedules. Companies importing equipment should immediately update procurement workflows to factor in REEIMS lead times and verification checks.
Why the DGFT move matters to vendors and EPCs
The policy signals a pivot from unfettered imports toward a compliance-driven framework that balances imports with domestic capability. For EPC vendors and installers, this means earlier coordination with suppliers to avoid customs delays. For module suppliers and manufacturers, the rule could ease competition from cheap imports and boost order flows for domestic producers — particularly those complying with ALMM/PLI requirements.
Importantly, the change will influence price and delivery dynamics across the value chain: from glass and cells to junction boxes and logistics. Smaller importers unfamiliar with traceability systems may face friction initially, while larger players with digital procurement processes will adapt faster.
Supply-chain impact: traceability, cost and market shifts
REEIMS is designed to improve solar and wind equipment import tracking, giving policymakers a clearer picture of import volumes and origin. This data will be used to align import flows with domestic manufacturing targets and to detect circumvention of import duties. In the short term, vendors should expect tighter documentation requirements and possible clearance delays; in the medium term, the market may see increased demand for locally manufactured modules and BoS components.
Industry reaction and compliance advice
Industry bodies and energy sector stakeholders welcomed the transparency objective but cautioned that implementation speed and customs coordination would determine outcome. “Operational clarity and a user-friendly REEIMS portal are critical,” said a compliance advisor working with EPCs. Firms are advised to appoint a REEIMS point of contact, digitize supplier invoices, and map HS codes now to avoid last-minute compliance risks.
Policy context: aligning with manufacturing goals
This move complements other domestic policy levers — including the Approved List of Models & Manufacturers (ALMM) and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) for solar manufacturing — which together aim to strengthen India’s manufacturing base. By improving oversight of imported solar module, inverter, and wind tower components, the government is nudging the market toward supply-chain independence and higher quality standards.
What vendors should do next
- Register for REEIMS access and train procurement teams on HS-code mapping.
- Factor registration timelines into RFQs and delivery schedules.
- Engage domestic suppliers and evaluate alternative local sources to reduce import dependency.
- Digitize supply-chain records to speed up customs verification and ensure traceability.
Bottom line: DGFT’s REEIMS registration for solar and wind equipment — effective 1 Nov 2025 — is a structural change that will increase traceability, reshape procurement practices, and likely strengthen India’s domestic solar manufacturing competitiveness. Vendors, EPCs and importers that act quickly to align with compliance and supply-chain transparency will gain an early advantage.
Published by SolSetu.com — Your Solar Bridge to Trusted Vendors.
