China Sets Record for Solar Energy Exports in March 2026

Kathmandu. China has set an all-time record for solar energy (technology/materials) exports in March 2026. According to a report released by UK-based energy research institute 'Ember', analyzing Chinese customs data, China exported 68 gigawatts of solar capacity in that month. This is 49 percent more than the previous record.

This increase is significantly higher than the previous record set in August 2025. According to analysts, this growth has been made possible by the increasing demand for energy worldwide and the urgent needs of African and Asian countries.

Experts have stated that the recent increase in demand has also been influenced by the rise in prices of fossil fuels like oil and gas due to the US-Iran war, and the end of China's tax exemption on clean energy materials from April 1. Due to this, the price of Chinese solar panels has now increased by about 9 percent.

According to Euan Graham, a senior analyst at Ember, 'The volume of exports is extremely large. It will become clear in the coming months how much of this is related to tax exemptions and how much is actual demand growth.'

In March 2026, China's solar exports doubled compared to the previous month, which is equivalent to Spain's total solar energy production capacity. In the same month, more than 50 countries set new records for importing Chinese solar materials.

Demand for solar energy has increased significantly in African countries. Nigeria's imports reached 1.2 gigawatts in February, an increase of 519 percent compared to February. Ethiopia imported 1.1 gigawatts, a 391 percent increase.

Africa is the continent with about 60 percent of the world's total solar energy potential. In recent years, many African countries have been rapidly expanding solar energy. For example, the Central African Republic derives more than one-third of its electricity from solar energy, while 13 countries including Chad, Somalia, and Malawi produce more than 10 percent of their electricity from solar energy.

According to analyst Basil Abiya, China's clean energy drive will not be affected even if China ends tax exemptions. Asian countries have also increased their imports of Chinese solar materials. India alone set a new record in March by importing 6.6 gigawatts. Overall, exports to Africa have increased by 176 percent, while exports to Asia have doubled.

According to Ember's Graham, countries are currently importing solar panels in very large quantities and are also expanding their own production capacity to meet the growing demand.