The Netherlands largest importer of Chinese solar panels

The total value of Dutch solar panel imports was 11.9 billion euros, making the Netherlands the largest importer in 2022. At 10.5 billion euros, imports of China-manufactured solar panels are highest as well. The United States is the world’s second-largest importer of solar panels, although it hardly gets any solar panels from China. Brazil comes in third place. Followed by Germany, the fourth largest importer. Germany imports relatively few solar panels directly from China. The majority were Chinese solar panels re-exported by the Netherlands. Spain is the fifth largest importer, but gets more panels directly from China compared to Germany.

Import value has more than doubled

Between 2021 and 2022, the value of Dutch solar panel imports more than doubled. The import volume rose by around 70 percent. The difference is related to a substantial price increase in 2022. This increase is partly due to higher demand (due to increased energy prices) and to rising costs of transportation and raw materials.

Approximately 60 percent of Dutch solar panel imports is destined for other countries, mostly within the EU. Around 40 percent is thus installed in the Netherlands, or stored for later use, either in the Netherlands or abroad.

The Netherlands not only trades a lot of Chinese solar panels, but also has a large number in use. Among the EU countries, the Netherlands had the highest installed solar capacity per capita in 2022. In addition, the Netherlands generated the largest share - 14 percent - of electricity using solar power. This is slightly more than Spain. In 2021, there were around 48 million solar panels in the Netherlands, and according to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, about 10 million panels were added last year.

China is important for the green transition

China is not only the largest supplier of solar panels, but also of other transitional goods that are crucial for the green transition in the Netherlands, Europe and the rest of the world. For example, China is a major producer of lithium-ion batteries, an essential component of electric cars. In addition, China produces magnets used in e.g. wind turbines and electric cars.

The Chinese share of Dutch imports of these transitional goods is largest for solar panels (89 percent), followed by lithium-ion batteries (74 percent) and magnets (68 percent). If quasi-transit trade, i.e. re-exports of goods in foreign ownership) is decoupled from imports, China’s share is lower.

Manufacturing and processing of critical raw materials mainly done in China

Dependence on Chinese transitional goods is partly due to the fact that China plays a major role worldwide in extraction and processing of critical raw materials into end products.

For the production of lithium-ion batteries, solar panels, magnets and other transltional goods, materials such as gallium, magnesium, rare earths, silicon, germanium and graphite are important. China holds a share of at least 65 percent in global production of these critical raw materials. The share is as high as 98 percent in the production of gallium.

China itself is a major producer of critical raw materials and also specialises in the processing of both domestic and foreign materials.

Dutch Trade in Facts and Figures 2023

Dutch Trade in Facts and Figures 2023: Exports, imports and investmen has been developed by the CBS Expertise Centre for Globalisation at the request of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The publication covers the latest trade developments, trade in goods and services, foreign direct investment, export earnings for the Netherlands and the use of imports in the Dutch economy.