In May 2025, African countries imported a combined 1.57 gigawatts (GW) of solar panels from China, an all-time high. This monthly volume represents approximately three-quarters of the Hoover Dam's capacity. Notably, this surge isn't limited to relatively affluent nations like South Africa but includes at least 22 African countries that increased imports during the first five months of 2025, with most doubling their previous year's numbers.

Algeria exemplifies this trend with a 6,300% increase in solar panel imports from China during the first half of 2025, reaching 0.76 GW. Even less developed countries like Chad have imported enough panels to theoretically replace their entire current power generation capacity.

China's role as the global solar panel manufacturing leader is pivotal, producing over 80% of the world's panels due to government subsidies, economies of scale, and technological advancements. While Europe and North America were previously the primary export markets, Africa is now emerging as a key destination.