Newsletter Subscribe
Enter your email address below and subscribe to our newsletter
EU imports €8 billion worth of solar panels, while exports remain far lower
Share
In 2025, the European Union (EU) imported solar panels worth €8 billion, while exports amounted to just €500 million, according to Eurostat data. Although the value of imports fell by 27.7% compared with the previous year, China maintained its dominant position on the European market, accounting for 98.6% of the EU’s total solar panel imports from countries outside the bloc.
The volume of solar panel imports decreased by 4%, also indicating a decline in the average import price. At the same time, the value of EU exports fell by 23.6%, despite a 2.6% increase in the volume of exported panels.
According to Eurostat, the EU imported a total of €11.4 billion worth of green energy products last year, including solar panels, biofuels and wind turbines. Exports of these three product groups reached €4.6 billion.
Growth in wind turbine imports
Unlike solar panels and biofuels, wind turbine imports recorded an increase. Their value rose by 40.6% to €700 million, while import volumes grew by 69%. The largest suppliers were China, accounting for 59.6% of imports, and India, with a share of 22.2%. China thus overtook India as the leading supplier, increasing its share from 41.3% in 2024.
More:
- The EU Can Add 25 GW of Renewable Energy Thanks to Existing Hydropower Plants
- ENTSO-E Prepares New Rules for a More Stable European Power Grid in the Era of Renewables
- Croatia: Over 62% of Energy from Renewables in Q1 2026
Wind turbines recorded the highest export value among the three product groups, reaching €3.1 billion. Compared with the previous year, the value of exports increased by 10.8%, while export volumes rose by 9.5%.
Decline in biofuel trade
EU biofuel imports were worth €2.7 billion, down 7.9% from 2024, while import volumes decreased by 11.6%. Malaysia was the largest supplier of liquid biofuels, accounting for 21.9% of imports, followed by the United States with 16.1%, Argentina with 12.4%, and the United Kingdom with 12.3%.
China’s share of EU biofuel imports fell from 24.2% in 2024 to just 1.3% in 2025.
EU biofuel exports amounted to €1 billion. Their value decreased by 45.9%, while export volumes fell by 46.2% compared with the previous year.
Energy portal
