InfoLink’s first half 2026 global photovoltaic module shipment ranking shows an unprecedented contraction among the largest suppliers. The 10 biggest names saw combined deliveries fall 31% compared with the same period last year, while a like for like view of the eight firms present in both 1H25 and 1H26 still points to a 30% drop. In total, the companies included in the ranking moved approximately 181.39 GW, with volumes so close at the lower end that four suppliers tied for eighth place, making 11 names in the published list.
LONGi and JinkoSolar finished level at the top. Trina Solar took third by a narrow margin, with JA Solar just behind in fourth. These four leaders accounted for around 59% of all ranked shipments, creating a clear gap over the rest. Yet the chase is tightening, as the shipment gap between the leading group and the next tier narrowed by about 4 to 5 percentage points from a year earlier. All four leaders include output from their United States module plants in their totals, with LONGi counting Illuminate USA, JinkoSolar counting Jinko Solar (U.S.) Industries, Trina Solar counting T1 Energy, and JA Solar counting American Panel Solutions in Corning.
The third tier comprised Tongwei, Astronergy and Yingli Solar in fifth to seventh. In the fourth tier, DMEGC Solar, AIKO, TCL Solar and GCL tied for eighth as their volumes differed by less than 5%, intensifying competition for position. For this ranking, TCL Solar’s data combine several brands, including HuanSheng, TCL Solar, TCL Photovoltaic Technology, SunPower, Maxeon and DAS Solar.
Three companies stand out in the movement of the list. Canadian Solar, a long time fixture, dropped out of the top 10 for the first time. That does not signal lost competitiveness. The company has been one of the few Chinese PV manufacturers to stay profitable over the past three years, sharpened its focus on the United States market, and recently started production at its US cell plant, a move that aligns with a pivot toward higher value markets.
AIKO entered the module shipment ranking for the first time. Though historically a specialist cell maker, it secured a leading position by leaning into its BC technology and an all BC module strategy, illustrating how a focused cell supplier can transform into a tier one module player.
TCL Solar now represents the combined entity of TCL Solar and DAS Solar, two brands that previously sat inside the top 10. As the industry enters a plateau phase, the established wafer specialist filled its long standing gap in cell capacity through the acquisition of DAS Solar’s brand and production assets. The merged scale and market reach have lifted TCL Solar to become the third largest BC module supplier globally, with integration expected to wrap up this year.
Policy and demand dynamics reshaped where modules went in 1H26. An export tax rebate change and a sharp drop in domestic demand in China pushed the top 11 suppliers to redirect volumes overseas. China accounted for about 39.9% of total shipments, while other markets made up 60.1%, an increase of roughly 18 percentage points from 1H25.
By technology, TOPCon remained the workhorse. Shipments of TOPCon modules made up about 83% of volumes among the top 11. BC modules also posted growth. Beyond AIKO, LONGi, JA Solar, TCL Solar and GCL all recorded BC shipments, taking total BC volumes to nearly 30 GW in the first half, or 16% of the top 11 total. HJT does not feature strongly in this list because major HJT manufacturers were not in the top 10, so the data mainly reflects technology choices by the leading module suppliers rather than the full global HJT share.
The sector is in a structural adjustment. Imbalances between supply and demand, overcapacity and elevated inventories have slowed capacity rationalisation, while end market demand faces downward pressure. These conditions are pushing companies across the chain to accelerate technology upgrades and reinforce core advantages.
Into 2026, expectations around China’s mandatory national standard on minimum energy efficiency values for crystalline silicon modules and inverters have grown, highlighting the product premium and competitive edge of high efficiency modules. With most regional markets now broadly covered, the next phase will likely reward firms that use differentiated products to reach niche segments, align more closely with customer needs and build long term stickiness, moving beyond homogenised products and price led competition.
Suppliers that balance scale with profit, shift competition from price to value and turn short term shipment gains into durable moats are best placed to outperform in the next upcycle. The industry is expected to move from unchecked capacity expansion to a phase of high quality development focused on energy efficiency and value creation.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
August 10, 2026
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