Most solar panels are manufactured in China. In 2024, China produced approximately 627 gigawatts of photovoltaic modules, or about 86% of global solar panel production. Solar panels are also manufactured in India, the United States, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, Japan, Türkiye, Cambodia, Mexico and several European countries.
Solar Panel Manufacturing by Country
The latest detailed country-level production figures from IEA PVPS cover 2024:
| Country or region | Solar module production in 2024 |
|---|---|
| China | 627 GW |
| India | 24 GW |
| United States | 23 GW |
| Vietnam | Approximately 20 GW |
| Thailand | Approximately 10 GW |
| Malaysia | Approximately 7 GW |
| Other countries | Canada, Japan, Türkiye, Cambodia, Mexico, Taiwan and Europe |
China produced more solar modules than all the other listed countries combined. These figures refer to modules produced, not the total manufacturing capacity available.
Why Are Most Solar Panels Made in China?
Most solar panels are made in China because the country has a large, connected supply chain covering nearly every stage of production:
- Polysilicon production
- Silicon ingot production
- Wafer manufacturing
- Solar cell manufacturing
- PV module assembly
In 2024, China accounted for approximately 93.2% of global polysilicon production, 97% of global wafer output and about 91% of global solar cell manufacturing capacity. Producing these components within one supply chain allows Chinese manufacturers to operate at very large scale.
Major Chinese solar companies include JinkoSolar, LONGi Green Energy Technology, JA Solar, Trina Solar and Tongwei Solar. IEA PVPS ranked these companies among the largest solar cell and module manufacturers by production or shipment volume in 2024.
Are Solar Panels Manufactured in the United States?
Yes. The United States has a growing solar panel manufacturing industry. The country produced approximately 15.7 GW of PV panels in the first half of 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Industry Update. U.S. module production capacity reached approximately 42.1 GW per year by the end of 2024.
U.S. solar manufacturing includes:
- Solar module assembly
- Solar cell production
- Silicon wafer production
- Thin-film solar technology
- Glass, frames, junction boxes and other components
The U.S. Department of Energy maintains a map of active solar manufacturing facilities. The map covers factories involved in the domestic photovoltaic supply chain. Its capacity figures represent potential nameplate output, so they do not show whether every facility is operating at that level.
Companies with U.S. manufacturing operations include JinkoSolar, which lists a manufacturing base in Jacksonville, Florida, and First Solar, a U.S. producer of thin-film cadmium telluride modules.
Are Solar Panels Made in Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand?
Yes. Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand are established solar manufacturing locations. They supply panels to international markets, and many factories in the region were built or expanded by Chinese solar manufacturers.
LONGi lists production facilities in China, Vietnam and Malaysia. JinkoSolar lists manufacturing bases in China, Vietnam, Malaysia and the United States.
A panel assembled in Vietnam or Malaysia may contain cells, wafers or other components made elsewhere. The final assembly location does not necessarily show where every component came from.
Where Are the Different Parts of a Solar Panel Made?
Different parts of a solar panel can be manufactured in different countries before the final module is assembled.
| Component | What it does | Common manufacturing locations |
|---|---|---|
| Polysilicon | Provides the raw silicon used in solar cells | Mainly China, with production in the United States, Germany and Malaysia |
| Ingots | Large blocks of crystallized silicon | Mainly China |
| Wafers | Thin silicon slices cut from ingots | Mainly China, with smaller production in Southeast Asia, India and the United States |
| Solar cells | Convert sunlight into electricity | Mainly China, with expanding production in India and the United States |
| Solar modules | Combine cells with glass, encapsulant, frame and junction box | China, India, the United States, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries |
The U.S. Department of Energy describes a PV module as a combination of wafers, cells, glass, encapsulant, backsheets, junction boxes, connectors and frames. These parts can come from different suppliers and countries before final module assembly.
Does a Solar Brand's Headquarters Show Where Its Panels Are Made?
No. A brand's headquarters and manufacturing location are not always the same.
For example:
- LONGi is headquartered in China but operates manufacturing facilities in China, Vietnam and Malaysia.
- JinkoSolar is headquartered in China and lists manufacturing bases in China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Florida.
- Canadian Solar is associated with Canada but manufactures products in multiple countries.
- Hanwha Qcells is a South Korean company with manufacturing operations in the United States and other locations.
The manufacturing location depends on the specific panel model, factory and production date.
How to Find Where a Specific Solar Panel Was Made
Ask the installer or manufacturer for the panel's model number and country-of-origin information. Check for:
- The exact panel model number
- The country where the module was assembled
- The country where the solar cells were manufactured
- The origin of the wafers and polysilicon, if available
- The product datasheet and country-of-origin documentation
The information on the panel's rear label or in its product documentation is more useful than the brand name alone.
Practical Takeaway
Use the panel's model number and country-of-origin documentation to identify where it was made. A brand's headquarters may identify the company, but it does not necessarily identify the factory that produced the module or the countries that supplied its components.