Date: June 8, 2026 | Shanghai, China

The 2026 edition of the SNEC PV Power Expo concluded in Shanghai last week, drawing approximately 115,000 visitors and over 3,000 exhibitors from across the global solar and energy storage supply chain. The event highlighted a notable transformation: for the first time, energy storage exhibitors outnumbered traditional solar manufacturing booths, signaling a structural shift toward integrated solar-plus-storage solutions.

Key Highlights:

• Soft Consolidation: Manufacturers are expanding across the value chain into storage and adjacent segments rather than consolidating through mergers or exits, a trend analysts describe as “soft consolidation.”
• Shift from Volume to Quality: After three consecutive years of losses, with the top 10 manufacturers collectively losing approximately $5.5 billion in 2025, companies are pivoting from volume-driven strategies to higher-efficiency products and customized, application-specific solutions.
• BC Technology Gains Traction: Back-contact (BC) cell technology emerged as a potential long-term successor to TOPCon, with multiple manufacturers investing in early positioning and production capacity.

Industry Outlook:

Market sentiment at SNEC 2026 was broadly cautious, with persistent oversupply continuing to weigh on prices across the solar value chain. However, the growing emphasis on energy storage, application-specific modules such as balcony and offshore designs, and the rise of integrated clean-tech platforms suggest the industry is adapting to a new equilibrium. Policy uncertainty, particularly around trade regulations and geopolitical factors, remains a key risk factor for global solar manufacturers.

iExcellents continues to monitor global trade trends to serve our clients better.

Tags: Solar, Trade