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Europe Loses Final Domestic Solar Glass Manufacturer as GMB Files for Insolvency

The insolvency filing by Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg leaves 247 workers jobless, exposing Europe’s reliance on subsidized imports.

Overview

  • The Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg plant in Tschernitz filed for insolvency on July 7 after investors determined there was no viable restructuring solution.
  • About 247 employees at GMB have been put out of work as Germany’s sole solar glass producer ceases operations.
  • Government appeals for resilience bonuses and ant-dumping measures went unanswered despite lobbying from regional leaders and industry groups.
  • Subsidized Chinese photovoltaic imports accounted for roughly 86 percent of Germany’s imports in 2024, contributing to a 56 percent collapse in domestic module production.
  • Swiss manufacturer Meyer Burger’s German subsidiaries remain under insolvency protection, highlighting the broader collapse of Europe’s solar manufacturing sector.