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Where does China get its solar panels and cells? Import sources 2024

In 2024, China imported $4.4 billion of solar panels and cells (38 thousand tonnes), 5.6% of the world total. Its main sources were Japan (27%), Malaysia (17%) and Taiwan (17%). China was the world’s 3rd-largest importer of solar panels and cells.

Summary

Value
$4.4billion
Tonnes
38thousand tonnes
Share of world total
5.6%
World rank
3rd
Routes from the main sources. Width: value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand

Sources

The 20 main sources in the latest year.

PartnerValue (USD billions)TonnesUSD per tonneShareMode
Japan1.2Tonnes: 164USD per tonne: $7,355,61327.4%Air
Malaysia0.76Tonnes: 10,567USD per tonne: $72,27917.4%Air
Taiwan0.75Tonnes: 566USD per tonne: $1,323,64317%Air
Vietnam0.45Tonnes: 18,641USD per tonne: $24,13310.2%Land
South Korea0.3Tonnes: 773USD per tonne: $393,7736.9%Air
Thailand0.24Tonnes: 2,893USD per tonne: $82,2955.4%Air
Switzerland0.16Tonnes: 28USD per tonne: $5,643,1403.5%Air
United States0.15Tonnes: 74USD per tonne: $2,034,5263.4%Air
Germany0.12Tonnes: 153USD per tonne: $758,6292.6%Air
Philippines0.08Tonnes: 374USD per tonne: $222,0201.9%Air
Cambodia0.05Tonnes: 1,637USD per tonne: $27,6621%Sea
Sweden0.03Tonnes: 4USD per tonne: $9,266,6050.79%Air
Singapore re-exports0.02Tonnes: 67USD per tonne: $364,4100.56%Air
Hong Kong re-exports0.01Tonnes: 21USD per tonne: $720,3200.34%Land
Italy0.01Tonnes: 72USD per tonne: $122,9140.2%Air
France0.01Tonnes: 95USD per tonne: $88,8330.19%Air
United Kingdom0.01Tonnes: 47USD per tonne: $170,7170.18%Air
Mexico0.01Tonnes: 28USD per tonne: $237,3790.15%Air
Turkey< 0.01Tonnes: 153USD per tonne: $30,9790.11%Sea
Laos< 0.01Tonnes: 183USD per tonne: $23,1180.1%Land

Trend

Who it buys from

Japan has been its main source since 2018

Value in USD billions. The five largest sources in 2024.

  • Japan 1.2
  • Malaysia 0.76
  • Taiwan 0.75
  • Vietnam 0.45
  • South Korea 0.3

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
Japan0.031.2
Malaysia< 0.010.76
Taiwan0.010.75
Vietnam00.45
South Korea< 0.010.3

Sources and methodology

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Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), which reconciles what exporters and importers report: countries that stopped reporting (Russia since 2022) appear with their partners’ data. FOB values in current US dollars; tonnes when BACI reports them. The price per tonne is the value of the rows with a weight divided by that weight. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Data up to 2024.

Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands and Belgium re-export goods from other countries: their figures include transit.

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