China’s clean technology exports hit record high in August, reaching $20bn

The record value of cleantech exports has been reached even as technology prices have fallen sharply, highlighting the speed of demand growth for electrotech. Over the last decade, prices for solar panels have fallen by over 80%, which has further increased demand for the technology. Solar PV exports in August 2025 alone totalled 46 GW, greater than Australia’s entire solar capacity, setting a new record in GW terms. However, their dollar value remained 47% lower than their March 2023 peak.

As the price of clean technologies continues to fall, demand is picking up in new markets. More than half of the growth in China’s EV exports this year has come from outside the OECD (51%).

Exports to the ASEAN region rose 75% in January-August 2025, amid especially strong growth in Indonesia. The country saw the largest increase in EV imports from China of any country in 2025, becoming the 9th largest market globally this year. Monthly sales data for Indonesia shows battery electric vehicles made up 14% of all new car sales in August 2025, up from 9% in August 2024.

From an especially low base, Africa has seen record growth this year. Chinese EV exports to the region in January-August 2025 were almost triple (+287%) those in January-August 2024. Morocco recorded the largest absolute growth, while Nigeria’s EVs imports grew six-fold. Meanwhile, Latin America and the Caribbean has seen growth of 11% and the Middle East 72%.

Within China, the uptake of clean technologies has been even higher – EVs made up 52% of new car sales in August 2025. In the first half of the year, China installed more than twice as many solar panels as the rest of the world combined. Sustained policy commitment is restructuring the country’s economy and energy system around clean electrified technologies, as shown in Ember’s recently released China Energy Transition Review.