Chinese Solar Exports to Africa Surge 60% as Beijing Solidifies Market Grip

Johannesburg, Saturday, 13 December 2025.
Driven by a dramatic 60% surge in solar panel imports, China is rapidly cementing its dominance over Africa’s renewable energy infrastructure. Over the past year, African nations imported more than 15 gigawatts of Chinese solar capacity, capitalizing on a 70% drop in module prices since 2022. This influx represents a strategic geopolitical shift; with over $180 billion pledged for overseas clean energy projects since 2023, Beijing is effectively outmaneuvering Western competitors in the Global South. As nations like Chad and South Africa leverage affordable Chinese technology to combat energy poverty, the economic gap between China and Western investors widens. This aggressive expansion, supported by China’s control of over 80% of the global solar supply chain, signals a long-term transformation in energy alliances, positioning Beijing as the primary architect of Africa’s electrification and future economic development.