Nigeria has emerged as one of the countries exporting solar modules to the United States, according to a report by S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Global Trade Analytics Suite.
The report places Nigeria among a growing group of suppliers benefiting from shifting global solar supply chains as manufacturers adapt to stricter US trade measures targeting China-linked imports. The development also follows a sharp increase in solar cell imports from China into Nigeria.
US solar module imports fell to 4.5 gigawatts in the first quarter of 2026, down nearly 50 per cent from the previous quarter and 32.3 per cent year-on-year, the lowest level since the second quarter of 2019. The decline has been linked largely to Foreign Entity of Concern restrictions that took effect at the start of 2026.
S&P Global Energy Horizons Principal Market Analyst Alex Kaplan said importers accelerated shipments before the restrictions came into force, adding that the slowdown is likely temporary and could be followed by a recovery.
The report noted that US developers had already built substantial inventories during 2025 while domestic manufacturing capacity expanded, reducing short-term reliance on imports.
Indonesia led solar module exports to the US with a 40.6 per cent share, followed by the Philippines (24.8 per cent), Ethiopia (9.2 per cent), and Laos and Vietnam (4.6 per cent each). Nigeria featured alongside Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Kenya among the leading suppliers.
Rob Gardner of the Solar Energy Manufacturers for America Coalition said ongoing trade investigations have accelerated supply-chain shifts, helping countries such as Nigeria and Kenya emerge as major exporters following increased Chinese cell exports to those markets.
US solar cell imports also fell to 3.7 gigawatts, down 20.9 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 16.5 per cent year-on-year. South Korea accounted for the largest share at 31.9 per cent, followed by Thailand, Indonesia, Ethiopia and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, average US prices for Topcon solar modules rose to 34.4 cents per watt in the first quarter of 2026, up 28.8 per cent from a year earlier and roughly three times higher than prices in Europe and China, underscoring the changing dynamics of the global solar market in which Nigeria is gaining prominence.
No comments:
Post a Comment