African nations are importing solar panels at unprecedented levels, even as domestic manufacturing struggles to expand.

In the year ending June 2025, the continent imported over 15 GW of panels from China, representing a 60% rise from the previous year. A single month, May, accounted for 1.57 GW—nearly three-quarters of the Hoover Dam’s generating capacity. Nigeria climbed into second place with 1.72 GW of imports, surpassing Egypt, while Algeria followed with 1.2 GW.

The numbers reflect Africa’s rush to expand electricity access, but they also reveal a worrying reliance on external suppliers. China provides close to 90% of the solar technology installed across Africa, from panels to inverters and batteries.

South Africa is the only country making notable strides in manufacturing, with an assembly capacity of 620 MW annually against demand of about 3 GW. A new venture between JA Solar and ARTsolar has added a 340 MW line and 150 permanent jobs, but most progress stops at assembling imported parts.

Analysts note that the absence of a local supply chain for core materials—like PV cells, glass, and encapsulants—keeps African factories dependent on imports. Weak infrastructure and frequent power outages further drive up costs, putting local producers at a disadvantage.

Policymakers are beginning to intervene. South Africa’s new 10% tariff on imported panels aims to support local firms but could also make solar projects more expensive and slow adoption.

Experts caution that until Africa develops deeper manufacturing capabilities, the economic benefits of the solar boom will remain limited. For now, the continent faces a trade-off: rely on cheap imports to connect millions to electricity quickly, or invest in a longer-term vision that secures more value within local industries.