Ember reported that China’s solar exports doubled month-on-month to a record 68 GW in March 2026, driven by the Middle East energy crisis and rising fossil fuel prices. Demand surged across Asia and Africa, with 50 countries reaching record import levels. Growing exports of solar cells, wafers and batteries also highlighted accelerating global clean energy adoption and energy security efforts.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Country: China (global exports)
Month: March 2026
Solar Exports: ~68 GW
Growth: ~2× increase month-on-month
Driver: Global energy crisis, fossil fuel volatility
Key Regions: Asia, Africa, global markets
BESS Link: Rising need for energy storage integration
Trend: Solar + storage deployment accelerating
Global energy think tank Ember indicates that China’s solar exports reached a record of 68 GW in March 2026, which indicates twice the level of the previous month. These high energy prices are due to US-Israel war with Iran and an additional boost from changes to China’s export tax rebate policy.
March data from China’s customs authority offers the first clear indication of how the world is responding to the energy crisis. Ember analysis states that, based on the data from Chinese China Solar PV Export Explorer, Chinese solar exports reached a record of 68 GW. This is equivalent to Spain’s total solar capacity and is 49% higher than the previous record set in August 2025.
The latest data indicates that regions most impacted by the ongoing energy crisis have experienced some of the strongest growth in solar PV demand. Sales also increased ahead of changes to export tax rebates from 1 April, which are expected to raise solar panel costs by 9%.
In March 2026, 50 countries recorded all-time highs in imports of Chinese solar, while another 60 reached their highest levels in six months. Exports to Africa surged by 176% compared to February, reaching 10 GW. As shipments to Asia doubled to 39 GW, in which both sets new records. The two regions were responsible for three-quarters of overall increase in Chinese solar exports.
In Asia while comparing the growth to February, 2026,
- India's imports rose (+141%, +6.6 GW)
- Malaysia jumped (+384%, +1.8 GW)
- Lao PDR climbed (+108%, +2.3 GW)
In Africa,
- Nigeria (+519%, +1.2 GW)
- Kenya (+207%, +1.4 GW)
- Ethiopia (+391%, +1.1 GW)
each of these countries in Asia and Africa imported more than 1 GW of solar PV in a single month for the first time, primarily in the form of solar cells.
Record import volumes were also observed in markets severely affected by surging oil and gas costs, such as the European Union, Japan, and Australia. Middle East was the only place where solar imports didn’t go up, mostly because the closure of the Strait of Hormuz messed up the usual trade routes.
In addition to expanding domestic solar installations, many countries across Asia and Africa are moving up the value chain by developing their own solar manufacturing and assembly capabilities. China’s exports of solar cells and wafers have surged, surpassing panel exports in October 2025 as more panel assembly shifts outside the country. In March 2026, solar panel exports rose by 91% from February to reach 32 GW, while exports of cells and wafers grew even faster—up 108% to 36 GW.