Qcells Furloughs 1,000 Georgia Workers Amid U.S. Customs Delays on Solar Components

Qcells, the U.S. solar manufacturing arm of South Korea’s Hanwha Group, has temporarily furloughed about 1,000 employees at its Georgia factories due to prolonged customs delays on imported solar components. The company reported that shipments of solar cells from Malaysia and South Korea—essential materials for panel assembly—have been repeatedly stalled by U.S. customs officials.

These delays are linked to the 2021 U.S. law banning imports from China’s Xinjiang region over forced labor concerns. Earlier this year, Qcells confirmed that some of its shipments had been detained at U.S. ports under the same regulation. While the detained shipments have since been released, the extended clearance process has disrupted production schedules and forced temporary cutbacks.

The company has reduced hours and implemented furloughs for roughly half of its workforce across its Cartersville and Dalton manufacturing plants. In addition, around 300 staffing agency workers have been let go as part of the temporary measures.

Despite the setback, Qcells emphasized its continued commitment to expanding domestic solar manufacturing. The company has pledged a $2.5 billion investment to establish a fully integrated U.S. solar supply chain—from raw materials to finished panels—in an effort to reduce reliance on Chinese imports and strengthen U.S. energy independence.

Qcells spokesperson Marta Stoepker stated that production is expected to return to normal in the coming weeks. “Our commitment to building the entire solar supply chain in the United States remains strong,” she said. “We will soon be back on track with the full force of our Georgia team delivering American-made solar energy to communities nationwide.”

The company’s rapid growth aligns with the Biden administration’s push to expand clean energy production and bring more solar manufacturing jobs back to the United States.