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China steers solar module export stream towards Asia: Maguire

China maintained its dominant grip on the export of photovoltaic panels and modules in 2023, boosting international shipments by over a 3rd from 2022's. totals, according to information put together by energy think tank Cinder.

Overall solar module exports by China, which accounts for. roughly 80% of international solar exports, totalled roughly 220,000. megawatts (MW) of generation capacity in 2023, up by over 55,000. MW from 2022 as international markets seeking to enhance tidy energy. generation snapped up parts.

However trade stress with Europe over accusations that China. has damaged competing manufacturers of solar equipment resulted in a minor. shift in the flows of module exports during 2023 as a whole.

Asian nations saw the biggest increase of all areas in. solar module imports from China in 2023, growing by more than. European nations for the very first time considering that 2020.

Europe remained the largest overall location for Chinese. solar modules in general, however the area's share of overall Chinese. solar exports dropped to 46.35% in 2023 from 55% in 2022.

Asia had the second largest share, with 23%, while Latin. America and the Caribbean had the 3rd biggest share with 14%.

Africa and the Middle East both saw sharp climbs in module. import capability from China in 2023, and both areas climbed by. roughly two times the integrated capability imported by Oceania and. North America in 2015.

NATION HIGHLIGHTS

In terms of specific countries, the Netherlands remained. the largest single destination for China's solar modules for the. 2nd straight year in 2023, importing a record 47,156. megawatts.

Brazil (21,009 MW), India (14,538 MW) and Spain (12,241 MW). were other significant markets.

In regards to annual development rates, Saudi Arabia, South Africa,. Malaysia and Pakistan all saw imports from China boost by. well over 100% in 2023 from 2022's totals, and all joined the. ranks of major markets for China modules and panels.

Yearly declines in solar imports from China were seen in. Germany (-25%), Portugal (-54%) and Poland (-14%) as European. lawmakers cracked down on low-cost sustainable equipment imports from. China and threatened anti-dumping procedures.

United Arab Emirates also saw an annual contraction in. module imports (-42%) in 2023, due to the conclusion of significant. energy scale projects and the intro of feed-in tariffs. which slowed the rate of new solar farm building.

GROWTH AREAS

Offsetting the declines seen into specific European markets. were import boosts into Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea. and Malaysia, which look set to stay high-growth markets for. renewable resource elements due to intensifying clean energy. momentum in those countries.

Southern European countries also posted solid year-on-year. gains in 2023, with Italy's imports growing by 64%, Turkey's by. 219%, while Spain (+10%) and Greece (6%) likewise revealed development.

Ongoing trade disagreements kept the United States a. conspicuously little market for Chinese modules offered the total. size of U.S. economy, with U.S. purchases of 563 MW of. elements accounting for only 0.3% of overall Chinese exports.

However, even if trade spats continue to diminish China's. share of the solar element markets in The United States and Canada and. Europe, fast-growing economies such as The Philippines, Vietnam,. Thailand, Malaysia and South Africa look set to make sure the. total trajectory of China's solar module exports remains. greater.

<< The viewpoints expressed here are those of the author, a. columnist .>

(source: Reuters)