Solar panel imports to the Philippines are continuing to grow as residential electricity tariffs rise to the highest in southeast Asia, with an estimated 3 GW of imported Chinese panels currently destined for the country.
Solar panel imports to the Philippines are continuing to increase as electricity prices in the country soar and panel costs fall.
Alnie Demoral, energy analyst at Ember specializing in Asian markets, told pv magazine that Chinese solar panel exports in March and April 2026 reached record levels, suggesting that over 3 GW of additional panels may be destined for the Philippines.
The finding builds on research from Ember published in May which found over 4 GW of Chinese solar panels were imported into the Philippines between January and April this year. The figure places the Philippines second for Chinese solar panel imports globally, behind only the Netherlands which acts as an import hub for much of Northwest Europe.
Analysis by Ember of the United Nations’ Comtrade database found net solar panel imports into the Philippines increased from $365 million in 2024 to $483 million in 2025. Demoral explained that global panel prices means this translates into a 62% increase in imported solar capacity, from 3.1 GW to 5.1 GW.
