Chinese Solar Exports Skyrocket to Unprecedented Levels in March
Chinese solar exports have doubled in a single month, achieving a record high in March 2026, as the energy crisis triggered by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran accelerates the global shift away from fossil fuels. According to analysis by the energy think tank Ember, exports reached 68 gigawatts (GW) in March, a figure equivalent to Spain's entire solar capacity. This represents a staggering 49 per cent increase over the previous record set in August 2025.
Global Demand Surges Across Multiple Regions
The surge in exports was driven by heightened demand across Asia, Africa, and other regions seeking alternatives to oil and gas. Ember's examination of customs data revealed that at least 50 nations set all-time records for Chinese solar imports in March, with an additional 60 countries experiencing their highest import levels in six months.
Regions most severely impacted by the energy crisis witnessed the most dramatic increases. Exports to Africa soared by 176 per cent compared to February, reaching 10GW, while exports to Asia doubled to approximately 39GW, both setting new records. Together, these two regions accounted for three-quarters of the overall export growth.
Notable Import Increases in Key Nations
Several countries imported more than one GW of solar technology in a single month for the first time ever, with India's imports rising by 141 per cent, Nigeria's by 519 per cent, Kenya's by 207 per cent, and Ethiopia's by 391 per cent. Records were also established in Japan, Australia, and across the European Union. However, the Middle East was the sole region not to see an increase in solar imports, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz significantly disrupted trade flows.
Expert Insights on the Solar Boom
Euan Graham, a senior analyst at Ember, commented, "Fossil shocks are boosting the solar surge. Solar has already become the engine of the global economy, and now the current fossil fuel price shocks are taking it up a gear. Countries are importing solar panels at record levels, and building up their own domestic assembly and manufacturing capabilities to address surging global demand."
Factors Driving the Export Spike
The export boom was partly fueled by a change in Chinese export tax rebate rules that took effect in April, which added around 9 per cent to solar panel costs and prompted a rush of purchases before the deadline. Demand extended beyond finished panels, with exports of solar cells and wafers, increasingly assembled into panels outside China, rising 108 per cent from February to reach 36GW, surpassing panel exports for the first time since October 2025. Panel exports themselves increased by 91 per cent to 32GW.
Battery Exports Also Experience Significant Growth
Battery exports surged as nations sought to store solar electricity generated during daylight hours for evening use. China's battery exports rose 44 per cent from February to reach $10 billion in March, with particularly robust demand in the EU, Australia, and India.
Clean Energy Rivaling Fossil Fuel Disruption
The scale of the clean energy expansion is beginning to rival the fossil fuel disruptions it aims to counteract. Ember's Global Electricity Review 2026, published earlier this week, found that record growth in solar generation in 2025 was sufficient to displace gas-fired electricity equivalent to all liquefied natural gas exports through the Strait of Hormuz last year. Additionally, the global electric vehicle fleet displaced 1.8 million barrels per day of oil demand in 2025, equivalent to 13 per cent of US crude oil production.
