China solar panel exports to Africa jump by 83% as demand for clean energy surges

China’s solar panel exports to Africa surged 83% year-on-year in April 2026, reaching 123,787 metric tons, according to Chinese customs data as reported by Reuters. This is a sign that African demand for renewable energy is accelerating even as global solar prices face upward pressure.

The growth comes despite concerns that exports would slow following China’s decision to end its export tax refund policy on April 1, a move widely expected to push up prices for buyers abroad. Continued imports reflect ongoing electricity shortages and long-term renewable energy expansion plans in several African countries and growing government commitments to renewable energy expansion across the continent.

In April 2025, 67,552 tons of solar panels were shipped into Africa from China. In April 2026, this figure rose to 123,787 tons. While this was less than the 209,474 tons imported in March 2026, it still indicates a significant increase in demand compared to the previous year. The March spike was widely attributed by analysts to front-loading ahead of changes in export tax refund policies.

However, the high import volume in April suggests that the increased demand is not just temporary stockpiling, but reflects a real increase in need.

South Africa was the continent’s largest buyer, increasing its imports by 81.4% in volume compared to April 2025. The highest, however, came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where imports rose 482% to 17,953 metric tons. The DRC has one of the world’s lowest electrification rates, and the surge in solar imports signals a significant push to address a power deficit that affects hundreds of millions of people.

A global solar surge with Africa at the centre

While global exports rose modestly overall, Africa recorded one of the strongest growth rates. Chinese solar exports to Southeast Asia rose 75% year-on-year to 170,733 tons in April, though volumes there also eased from a March peak of 336,891 tons.

Total Chinese solar exports in April rose 60% on a per-unit value basis and 4% on a volume basis overall, with softer shipments to South Asia and the Middle East pulling the volume figure down.

The Netherlands, a major transshipment hub for European markets, remained the top importing country globally by volume, receiving 177,391 tons worth $380.8 million, down 2.5% year-on-year. The Philippines came in second by volume, more than doubling its April 2025 imports to 56,744 tons, though that was down significantly from 111,599 tons in March.

For Africa, the broader picture is one of an accelerating energy transition. Countries like South Africa, the DRC, Nigeria, and Ethiopia have been expanding solar infrastructure, from utility-scale projects to off-grid mini-grids serving rural communities, as the cost of solar panels continues to fall and the cost of fossil fuel-based alternatives continues to rise.

China remains the dominant supplier of that hardware, and the April data confirms that African buyers are not pulling back despite the pricing shifts now working through the global supply chain.

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