Executive summary – Solar PV Global Supply Chains

Government policies in China have shaped the global supply, demand and price of solar PV over the last decade. Chinese industrial policies focusing on solar PV as a strategic sector and on growing domestic demand have enabled economies of scale and supported continuous innovation throughout the supply chain. These policies have contributed to a cost decline more than 80%, helping solar PV to become the most affordable electricity generation technology in many parts of the world. However, they have also led to supply-demand imbalances in the PV supply chain. Global capacity for manufacturing wafers and cells, which are key solar PV elements, and for assembling them into solar panels (also known as modules), exceeded demand by at least 100% at the end of 2021. By contrast, production of polysilicon, the key material for solar PV, is currently a bottleneck in an otherwise oversupplied supply chain. This has led to tight global supplies and a quadrupling of polysilicon prices over the last year.

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Solar PV products are a significant export for China. In 2021, the value of China’s solar PV exports was over USD 30 billion, almost 7% of China’s trade surplus over the last five years. In addition, Chinese investments in Malaysia and Viet Nam also made these countries major exporters of PV products, accounting for around 10% and 5% respectively of their trade surpluses since 2017. The total value of global PV-related trade – including polysilicon, wafers, cells and modules – exceeded USD 40 billion in 2021, an increase of over 70% from 2020.

China is the leader in the production of photovoltaic panels. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2017, the Chinese market accounted for half of the global demand for solar energy. Approximately 60% of the world’s production of PV panels took place in China. The article below will present the largest solar panels manufacturers and production areas of PV panels in China.

The production areas of PV panels in China

Most of the manufacturers of photovoltaic panels in China are located on the southeastern coast of the country. Hundreds of them are based in Shanghai, as well as in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Anhui provinces. Among the cities are e.g. Nanjing, Changzhou, Wuxi, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Hefei, and Guangzhou.

The largest solar panels manufacturers in China

• Jinko Solar – the largest manufacturer of photovoltaic panels in the world
• Trina Solar
• JA Solar
• Longi Green Energy Technology
• Risen Energy
• GCL System Integration
• Talesun Solar Technologies
• SFCE (Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited)
• Yingli Green Energy
• Renesola
• Suntech Power
• Astroenergy
• and others.

Import of photovoltaic panels to the European Union and the United States

The increasing usage of solar energy is aimed at fighting the climate crisis while gradually reducing the use of fossil fuels for heating and cooling. This is one of the reasons why the demand for solar panels has increased in recent years.

Import of photovoltaic panels to the European Union

Europe is the main market for Chinese solar panels. In September 2018, a decision was made to remove the anti-dumping duty on PV panels. This was due to the constantly growing demand for solar panels, and the lifting of this tariff significantly boosted the import of photovoltaics into the European Union.

Import of photovoltaic panels to the United States

However, the situation is different in the United States, where also in 2018, President Donald Trump imposed a 30% tariff on non-domestic solar energy products. It is meant to protect the jobs of US workers. Earlier, in 2014, the International Trade Commission (ITC) had implemented restrictions on solar products manufactured in Mainland China and Taiwan. Therefore, in the case of PV panels, the United States imports the most from Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea, not from China.

Solar panels manufacturers from China – what should you be aware of?

When ordering photovoltaic panels from China, one can take up both manufacturer’s as well as intermediary’s offers. In the first case, you should stay aware of the scammers posing as large companies. In contrast to the real manufacturers, they don’t require large orders. When you see the possibility of placing a small order from the market leaders, you should think it through. However, if you are willing to buy panels from an intermediary, you should definitely verify the supplier from China to avoid losing your money.

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Due to the great interest in PV panels, plenty of Chinese scammers try to profit from the ignorance of novice importers, especially on B2B sites (e.g. Alibaba). Sometimes they pretend to be not only the licensed suppliers but also the panel manufacturers. That is why one should verify both suppliers and manufacturers.

The picture below shows that when, for example, we type in the name of the company “JA Solar” in the supplier search engine on Alibaba, we will get over 400 results. Check our guide on Alibaba platform to learn how to navigate through B2B sites effectively and find a trustworthy supplier.

Before starting the import process, you should also familiarize yourself with all the regulations regarding importing modules and PV panels, as well as with a list of the required documents and certificates. For example, in the European Union, obtaining the CE marking is necessary, which requires a declaration of performance.

Trade fairs of photovoltaic panels in China

Photovoltaic panels are presented, among others, during the largest trade fair in China – China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou. The fair is divided into three phases, and the PV panels are in the group of products in the first phase.

Another interesting event worth considering is the Guangzhou International Solar Photovoltaic Exhibition, which will also take place in Guangzhou.

One should remember to follow the dates and information from the organizers on the official websites of the events.

Solar panels manufacturers in China – a summary

China is the global leader in the production and installation of photovoltaic panels. No wonder more and more companies and private individuals are willing to import the panels from China – to lower the costs and avoid European intermediaries.

However, before you send our money to a Chinese company, it is worth ensuring what, from whom, and on what terms you order. The goods you ordered also have to meet all standards of the target market.

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