Nigeria has joined a growing group of countries supplying solar modules to the United States as manufacturers adjust global trade routes in response to stricter American restrictions on products linked to Chinese supply chains.
According to a recent report by S&P Global Market Intelligence, Nigeria ranked among the top 10 countries exporting solar modules to the US during the first quarter of 2026. The development reflects the country’s increasing role in the international renewable energy market as companies seek alternative production and export hubs.
The report showed that US solar module imports dropped significantly during the period, reaching their lowest quarterly level since 2019. Imports totaled 4.5 gigawatts in the first three months of the year, nearly half the volume recorded in the previous quarter and over 32 per cent lower than the same period in 2025.
Industry analysts linked the decline to new Foreign Entity of Concern regulations introduced by the United States. The measures, which took effect in January 2026, restrict products connected to certain foreign entities from benefiting from federal clean energy incentives.
S&P Global Energy Horizons Principal Market Analyst Alex Kaplan explained that many companies increased shipments ahead of the implementation of the new rules, resulting in a temporary slowdown afterward.
He noted that imports could rebound in the coming quarters as the market adjusts to the policy changes.
The report also highlighted changing trade patterns within the global solar industry. Indonesia remained the largest supplier of solar modules to the US, followed by the Philippines, Ethiopia, Laos and Vietnam. Nigeria, alongside Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Kenya, also featured prominently among exporting countries.
Industry stakeholders said recent US trade investigations have encouraged manufacturers to diversify export routes. The shift follows growing scrutiny of supply chains suspected of relying on Chinese-made components.
Rob Gardner, Vice President of Congressional and Regulatory Affairs at the Solar Energy Manufacturers for America Coalition, said countries such as Nigeria and Kenya have gained importance as exporters while shipments from some previously dominant suppliers have declined sharply.
He added that the trend coincides with increased exports of solar cells from China to several emerging manufacturing and export locations.
The US solar sector is currently monitoring several ongoing trade investigations involving allegations that some manufacturers are using third countries to bypass restrictions on Chinese-linked products.
The report further revealed that imports of solar cells into the US also declined during the first quarter. Total shipments fell to 3.7 gigawatts, representing decreases compared with both the previous quarter and the same period last year.
Meanwhile, solar module prices in the US remained substantially higher than those in Europe and China. Average prices for imported modules rose by nearly 29 per cent year-on-year during the first quarter and have remained elevated in the second quarter.
Analysts said Nigeria’s appearance among the leading suppliers to the US market demonstrates its growing participation in global clean energy supply chains at a time when trade policies and geopolitical considerations continue to reshape the solar industry.
