In September 2024, China exported approximately 2.66GW of solar panels to the American market, representing a 4% increase from 2.55GW in August, but a 3% decrease compared to 2.74GW in September of the previous year. During the third quarter of 2024, China’s total solar panel exports to the U.S. market reached 7.56GW, which is a 3% decline from 7.76GW in the second quarter and a 2% decrease from 7.68GW in the third quarter of 2023. From January to September 2024, the cumulative export volume to the U.S. market was about 24.31GW, reflecting a 10% increase from 22.04GW in the same period last year.

Brazil: Leading Solar Panel Importer in the American Market

Brazil has emerged as the top importer of Chinese solar panels in the American market. In September 2024, Brazil imported around 1.66GW of Chinese solar panels, a 9% increase from 1.53GW in August, accounting for 62% of the total import volume in the U.S. market. From January to September 2024, Brazil imported a total of 16.72GW of Chinese solar panels.

Brazil’s strong demand for solar panels is driven by favorable government policies and the country’s ongoing commitment to expanding its renewable energy sector. From July 2024 to June 2025, the Brazilian government implemented a new round of duty-free import quota restrictions, reducing the duty-free amount to USD $1.01 billion. From July to September 2024, Brazil’s cumulative import of photovoltaic components amounted to approximately USD $535 million, which accounted for 53% of the duty-free import quota.

Brazil’s Solar Panel Market: Policy Support and Future Growth

In the second half of 2024, Brazil introduced several policies designed to stimulate the growth of distributed solar energy projects, which are expected to further increase the demand for solar panels. Additionally, the Brazilian National Electricity Agency (ANEEL) recently launched a “red flag” warning, indicating that the cost of traditional power generation is rising. This increase in electricity prices is expected to drive public interest in installing solar panels as a more affordable and sustainable alternative.

Despite the new duty-free import restrictions, the absence of local component production capacity in Brazil means that these restrictions will have a limited impact on the volume of Chinese solar panel imports in the short term. As Brazil continues to invest in solar energy and reduce its reliance on traditional power sources, the demand for solar panels is likely to remain robust.

Outlook for the American Solar Panel Market

The American market for solar panels continues to grow, with increasing demand driven by both government incentives and the rising cost of conventional electricity. Brazil’s strong position as a leading importer of Chinese solar panels highlights the growing importance of the Latin American market in the global solar energy sector. The continued development of policies that encourage the use of renewable energy in Brazil, coupled with growing environmental awareness, will likely contribute to further growth in solar panel imports from China.