As traditional markets show signs of fatigue, China is redirecting a growing share of its photovoltaic panel exports to Africa. This dynamic places the continent – and more specifically Morocco – on an upward trajectory, according to the latest data from InfoLink based on Chinese customs statistics.
An African Surge in a Global Context of Decline
In the first four months of 2025, Chinese deliveries of solar modules to Africa reached 4.39 gigawatts (GW), an increase of 46% compared to the same period in 2024. The month of April alone recorded a performance of 1.17 GW, representing a 70% year-on-year increase, despite a slight decrease compared to March (–11%).
While Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East all show double-digit declines, Africa stands out as an exception. This rebound attests to a strategic repositioning by Beijing in a booming market.
Morocco, the New Focus
While South Africa maintains its status as the largest African buyer (0.21 GW in April), its share of total African volumes is decreasing, dropping from 31% in March to 18% in April. This evolution marks a gradual rebalancing in favor of other countries, with Morocco leading the way.
Although its customs data is not published in real-time, several signals indicate a rise of the Kingdom in the trade of Chinese photovoltaic modules. Shipments from the industrial provinces of Guangdong and Anhui have recently transited through the port of Tanger Med to the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, to supply projects involving production, storage, and injection into the national grid.
Africa Gains Ground in Chinese Priorities
The African push occurs within a global context of contraction. In April, Chinese exports of solar modules fell to 21.39 GW, a monthly decrease of 9%. Between January and April, global shipments totaled 83.29 GW, down 6% year-on-year.
This slowdown is partly intentional. Since the beginning of the year, Beijing has been encouraging its manufacturers to refocus on the domestic market, according to a note from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Additionally, regulatory difficulties encountered in certain regions of Latin America and South Asia have contributed to a redirection towards more responsive markets, including several African countries.
A Trend Set to Strengthen
According to several industry sources, this dynamic could intensify in the second quarter. Chinese manufacturers reportedly began, as early as mid-April, efforts to respond to new public tenders in North Africa, indicating a growing interest in a region that combines sunlight, increasing energy demand, and ambitious national strategies.
With its ambitions in energy transition, Morocco could thus become a key link in this new geography of global photovoltaic flows.
With Barlamane