China's Solar Panel Exports to Africa Increased by 48% in 2025

¬ Africa Imported 18.8 GW of Chinese Solar Panels, a 48% Increase

¬ Major Buyers Including Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa All Imported Over 1 GW

¬ Falling Prices Driven by the Expansion of Renewable Energy Across the African Continent Are Boosting Demand

According to Ember’s "Global Power Outlook 2026," released Tuesday by the think tank focused on accelerating the global clean energy transition, African countries imported 18.8 gigawatts (GW) of Chinese solar panels in 2025—up from 12.7 GW in 2024, representing a 48% increase. This total exceeds three times the 5.15 GW capacity of Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the largest hydropower project on the African continent.

Meanwhile, China is reducing exports to the United States and Europe, partly due to rising tariffs. The report also notes a significant rise in Egypt’s procurement of Chinese photovoltaic modules, increasing from 1 GW in 2024 to 2.3 GW in 2025. During the same period, Algeria’s imports surged sixfold, rising from 0.35 GW to 2.1 GW.

Based on updated data from China’s General Administration of Customs via Ember’s "China PV Export Explorer Database," five African countries imported more than 1 GW of Chinese photovoltaic components in 2024: Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Another ten countries imported over 0.3 GW of solar panels: Morocco, Kenya, Sudan, Zambia, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Namibia, Cameroon, and Tunisia.

Demand is primarily price-driven. According to *The Wire China*, Terje Osmundsen, CEO of Norwegian solar developer Empower New Energy, stated that high-end Chinese solar panels are typically 20% to 30% cheaper than comparable products from other Asian exporters.

The report further highlights that rapid growth in solar energy and the commissioning of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have enabled renewables to surpass coal in 2025, significantly boosting the country’s hydropower output.

However, South Africa remains heavily reliant on coal. Coal still accounts for 81% of South Africa’s electricity mix—second only to Mongolia’s 86%—making it the second-highest coal dependency globally.

In 2025, solar power became the primary driver of growth in the global energy sector, accounting for approximately 75% of increased electricity demand. Solar generation is expected to reach 2,778 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2025—a nearly 30% increase from 2024, equivalent to an additional 636 TWh.

Additionally, solar power is projected to account for 8.7% of global electricity generation in 2025, surpassing wind power’s share of 8.5%.

Source: ecofinagency

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863292580915210/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s).