Report: China’s exports of solar modules grow 45% in 2018

China exported 40.8GW of solar modules in 2018, up 45% from 28.1GW in 2017, Seraphim Energy last week reported based on data from China Customs.

In the wake of the government’s policy shift, the domestic solar market shrank and producers turned to the international markets, growing exports last year, the Chinese solar product manufacturer said in its WeChat account.

India, Japan and Australia remained the top three export destinations of Chinese solar modules in 2018.

About 6.7GW of Chinese solar modules entered India last year, down 26% from a year earlier due to safeguard duties and BIS certification.

Chinese solar modules exports to Japan grew 10% to 5GW in 2018, as solar projects approved before March 2015 and will be completed after 2020 will be eligible for subsidies. 

As large projects begin, volumes of Chinese solar modules to Australia, Mexico and Brazil soared last year. Those to Australia more than doubled to 4.1GW, those to Mexico grew 185% to 4GW, and those to Brazil gained 138% to 1,892MW.