Despite significant efforts to build up domestic manufacturing, U.S. solar projects are still being powered by imported solar panels. Solar Power World reviewed import data from the U.S. International Trade Commission and determined that the United States imported 33 GW of silicon solar panels in 2025 along with 21 GW of silicon solar cells. The cell number is important because it signals that domestic solar panel manufacturers are ramping up production, and perhaps the majority of installed solar panels in the United States will soon be American-assembled.
It’s interesting to follow the import trends throughout the year. In 2024, imports were mainly coming from Southeast Asia. This past year found most imported panels arriving from Indonesia, Laos and India — the three countries under investigation in the latest antidumping/countervailing duties (AD/CVD) trade case. Cambodia, the fourth ranked country for 2024 imports with 4.5 GW, only shipped 3.3 MW of panels in 2025.
Two countries started 2025 with no solar panel exports to the United States before becoming major suppliers by December — Ethiopia and the Philippines.
Most imported cells came from Indonesia and Laos in 2025. South Korea is also a leading country for exported cells to the United States. With around 50 GW of silicon panel assembly capacity in the United States and less than 5 GW of domestic cell manufacturing output, plenty more cells will need to be imported.
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Solar Power World has been reporting on the U.S. solar industry for 15 years, and we’re proud to be your home for the latest and most accurate reporting on domestic manufacturing and the tariffs affecting the solar industry. Not only do our editors track the solar panel space, but we also have been compiling lists of inverter and mounting manufacturers setting up in the United States. You can follow all of our American solar supply chain coverage here.
Can you give a country-wise cost breakdown per watt for imported solar cells and panels. This would help understand why USA had to put duties on imports.
Thanks so much
where is China on the list?
US doesn’t import many panels from China, but it’s on the list.