Key facts
- China's solar exports dropped 6.4% in September year-on-year.
- Year-to-date solar equipment shipments are down 9.5%.
- Proposed export controls target technologies for high-efficiency solar products.
China's exports of solar power equipment continued to decline, with a 6.4% drop in September compared to the previous year. The world's top solar manufacturer shipped 1.21 million metric tons of solar cells and panels last month, a decrease from August and over 6% lower than September last year. This contributed to a 9.5% slump in year-to-date overseas solar equipment shipments. The decline follows Beijing's removal of export tax rebates for photovoltaic products, effective April 1, 2026, which increases export costs. Authorities are now considering export controls or bans on a dozen solar manufacturing technologies, including those for perovskite and polysilicon production, as part of a broader strategy to protect core technologies and national security. A one-month public consultation period for these proposed adjustments has been launched.