China’s solar module exports increased 45% MoM in September 2026, but 9M 2026 shipments remained 12% lower YoY
Saudi Arabia drove much of the monthly recovery, while Europe remained the largest regional destination for Chinese modules
China’s solar cell exports rose 79% MoM, with Kenya emerging as a major destination
China’s solar module exports rebounded sharply in September 2026 after four months of relatively subdued shipments, according to InfoLink Consulting. While the recovery was largely driven by a surge in deliveries to the Middle East, analysts point out that cumulative exports continued to decline year-on-year (YoY).
China exported approximately 22.13 GW of solar modules in September 2026, up 45% from 15.26 GW in August. However, shipments were down 17% from 26.75 GW in September 2025.
Between January and September 2026, China exported 180.84 GW of solar modules, a 12% decline from 206.17 GW during the same period last year. The cumulative decline remained broadly unchanged from the January-August period, explain the analysts, indicating that the September rebound has not yet translated into a broader recovery.
The Middle East accounted for a significant share of the monthly increase. The region’s imports of Chinese solar modules reached 4.13 GW in September, up 153% from August. Saudi Arabia alone accounted for approximately 2.45 GW.
InfoLink attributed the surge largely to the release of shipments delayed by earlier shipping disruptions and higher freight and insurance costs. It cautioned that the increase should not be treated as a new baseline, as imports could return to more normal levels once delayed deliveries are completed.
Europe remained China’s largest regional market during the reporting month, importing 7.88 GW of modules in September, up 21% month-on-month (MoM) but down 28% YoY. The Asia-Pacific region imported 5.84 GW, while the Americas and Africa received 2.72 GW and 1.56 GW, respectively.
Solar cell exports also grew strongly during the month. China shipped 14.01 GW of solar cells in September, up 79% from August and 25% YoY. Cumulative exports reached 87.27 GW in the first nine months, up 12% from the same period in 2025.
Africa emerged as an important destination for Chinese solar cells, receiving 5.44 GW in September. This was around 3.5 times its imports of Chinese solar modules during the month. Kenya accounted for 3.45 GW of the cell shipments, marking a 382% monthly increase and the highest monthly volume recorded for a single destination.
InfoLink noted that Kenya's solar cell imports were significantly higher than its module imports, suggesting that much of the incoming cell volume was intended for local module assembly and subsequent exports, primarily to the US. However, it cautioned that Kenya's assembly capacity is still under development, raising questions about how quickly it can absorb these shipments.
Looking ahead, InfoLink expects Chinese solar module export prices to face limited upward pressure in Q4 2026. Weak domestic demand and a narrowing export window are likely to constrain price increases. It also warned that the surge in shipments during September and October could turn into channel inventory from November, potentially creating inventory clearance pressure in Q1 2027.