Yemen's imports of Chinese solar panels jump 83% in 6 months

Yemen's imports of Chinese solar panels rose by 82.9% year-on-year during the first half of 2026, a new indicator of Yemenis' growing reliance on solar energy to face the electricity crisis and fuel shortages.

According to data monitored by the Energy Research Unit, the capacity of Chinese panel imports reached about 750 megawatts between January and June, compared to 410 megawatts during the same period in 2025, an increase of 340 megawatts.

Imports in the second quarter registered 330 megawatts, an increase of 26.9% year-on-year, compared to 260 megawatts in the corresponding quarter of last year, despite a 21.4% decline compared to the first quarter, whose imports amounted to 420 megawatts.

The data shows a variation in monthly import movements, as they reached 170 megawatts in January, before declining to 70 megawatts in February, then rising to a record level for the first half at 180 megawatts in March.

In the second quarter, imports amounted to 100 megawatts in April, and 80 megawatts in May, before rising again to 150 megawatts in June.

January recorded a remarkable jump of 467% compared to the same month in 2025, when imports did not exceed 30 megawatts, while March imports doubled year-on-year from 90 to 180 megawatts.

Thus, first-quarter imports increased by 180% to 420 megawatts, compared to 150 megawatts during the same quarter last year, according to data from the clean energy research center 'Ember'.

This growth reflects a rapid transformation in the Yemeni energy market, with households and businesses increasingly relying on solar energy systems as an alternative to the state electricity grid, which is suffering a sharp decline in its ability to supply power, alongside the high cost and challenges of obtaining traditional fuel.

The contribution of solar energy to Yemen's electricity generation mix rose from 0.13% in 2014 to a record level of 16.8%, driven by increased investment, commercial shipments, and citizens' adoption of solar energy systems.

In the same context, Yemeni governorates are moving to expand renewable energy projects, most notably the second phase of the Aden solar plant project, which aims to increase its capacity to 240 megawatts, alongside new projects in Lahij, Dhale, Shabwa, Abyan, and Mahra.

Yemen's renewable energy capacity increased by 13% during 2025 to reach 456 megawatts, at a time when solar energy continues to solidify its position as one of the main alternatives to face the country's chronic electricity crisis.