China's clean technology exports hit record high in August, reaching $20bn

8th October 2025

The new record has been reached amid strong growth in EV and battery exports in 2025, half of which has come from emerging markets.

New data analysed using Ember's China Cleantech Exports Data Explorer shows that China's exports of clean technologies in August 2025 totalled $20 billion USD - a new record for the world's largest exporter of electrotech.

This level has been reached due to rapid growth in EV exports, which were 26% higher in January-August 2025 than in the same period last year, followed by battery exports which saw growth of 23%.

The value of other cleantech exports fell slightly in this period, as smaller rises in grid (+22%), wind (+16%), heating and cooling systems (+4%) were more-than-offset by a fall in solar PV (-19%). Both EVs and batteries are now more than double the value of solar PV exports.

China's cleantech exports reached $20 billion in August 2025, a record high driven by EVs and batteries.

The record value of cleantech exports has been reached even as technology prices have fallen sharply, highlighting the speed of demand growth for electrotech. Over the last decade, prices for solar panels have fallen by over 80%, which has further increased demand for the technology.

Solar PV exports in August 2025 alone totalled 46 GW, greater than Australia's entire solar capacity, setting a new record in GW terms. However, their dollar value remained 47% lower than their March 2023 peak.

The cost of clean technologies has fallen drastically in the last decade as demand has increased.

As the price of clean technologies continues to fall, demand is picking up in new markets. More than half of the growth in China's EV exports this year has come from outside the OECD (51%).

Exports to the ASEAN region rose 75% in January-August 2025, amid especially strong growth in Indonesia. The country saw the largest increase in EV imports from China of any country in 2025, becoming the 9th largest market globally this year. Monthly sales data for Indonesia shows battery electric vehicles made up 14% of all new car sales in August 2025, up from 9% in August 2024.

From an especially low base, Africa has seen record growth this year. Chinese EV exports to the region in January-August 2025 were almost triple (+287%) those in January-August 2024. Morocco recorded the largest absolute growth, while Nigeria's EVs imports grew six-fold. Meanwhile, Latin America and the Caribbean has seen growth of 11% and the Middle East 72%.

Emerging markets are importing more and more EVs from China.

Within China, the uptake of clean technologies has been even higher - EVs made up 52% of new car sales in August 2025. In the first half of the year, China installed more than twice as many solar panels as the rest of the world combined. Sustained policy commitment is restructuring the country's economy and energy system around clean electrified technologies, as shown in Ember's recently released China Energy Transition Review.

Euan Graham, ‍Ember, Electricity and Data Analyst said, "Demand for clean technologies continues to skyrocket as more and more countries seek their benefits, from low-cost power to cheaper vehicles. China's electrotech is becoming the basis of the new energy system, with continued cost reductions driving faster growth than ever, especially in emerging economies."