China’s green-tech exports grew by a third in first half of 2026

China's exports of green-technology products grew by more than a third in the first half of 2026, according to Bloomberg, as the accelerating global energy transition and elevated fossil fuel prices drove record demand for Chinese-made solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles.bloomberg

The data, released alongside broader trade figures by China's General Administration of Customs on Tuesday, showed the country's total foreign trade reached 25.47 trillion yuan ($3.75 trillion) in the first six months of the year, up 16.9 percent year-on-year. Total exports stood at 14.73 trillion yuan, up 13.4 percent, marking growth for 11 consecutive quarters. High-tech product exports grew 39 percent to 3.26 trillion yuan, with exports of lithium batteries and wind turbines rising 37 percent, according to official figures.globaltimes+1

A Record-Breaking Trajectory

The first-half surge caps months of accelerating clean-tech shipments. In January and February, the value of China's clean energy technology exports rose 44 percent year-on-year to $41 billion. By March, exports of the so-called "new three" — solar products, lithium-ion batteries, and electric vehicles — reached a record $21.9 billion, up 70 percent from a year earlier, according to analysis by Carbon Brief and Ember of Chinese customs data. Solar cell exports alone jumped 80 percent in March, while EV shipments rose 53 percent and lithium-ion batteries gained 34 percent.energyconnects+4

The trend continued through the spring. April data showed EV exports keeping clean-tech shipments near record levels, and in May, automobile exports climbed 39 percent, according to Reuters.reuters+1

Energy Crisis and Industrial Advantage

Analysts attribute the acceleration to both structural and cyclical forces. The disruption of traditional energy supplies tied to the conflict involving Iran has pushed global fossil fuel prices higher, making renewable alternatives more economically attractive and spurring demand for Chinese-manufactured equipment. Capital Economics noted that China's green technology exports reached a record high in March on the back of sharply rising fossil fuel prices.capitaleconomics+1

The export boom also reflects China's domestic buildout. By the end of March 2025, China's combined wind and solar capacity reached 1,482 gigawatts, surpassing fossil fuel-based thermal power for the first time, according to the National Energy Administration. Solar capacity alone stood at roughly 1,200 gigawatts at the end of 2025, and is on track to overtake coal capacity this year.the-independent+3

Between 2019 and 2025, Chinese companies made 55 percent of the world's $1.1 trillion in clean energy manufacturing investments and invested $136 billion in clean energy manufacturing outside China — more than four times the U.S. total, according to research firm Atlas.latitudemedia