EU imports of green technologies and fuels fell last year, while wind turbines again dominated exports

Last year, the European Union imported solar panels, biofuels and wind turbines worth 11.4 billion euros, while exports reached 4.6 billion euros. Both figures were down on 2024, when imports stood at 14.6 billion euros and exports at 5.3 billion euros. Solar panels continued to account for the largest share of imports, while wind turbines dominated exports.

The total value of imports of the products covered fell by approximately 22% year on year, while exports declined by around 13%. This is the combined total for three product groups: solar panels, liquid biofuels and wind turbines.

The EU paid eight billion euros for solar panels in 2025, 28% less than the year before. The volume of imports fell by just 4%, pointing to a drop in the average price of imported panels. In 2024, their import value was 11.1 billion euros.

Solar panels therefore accounted for approximately 70% of the total value of imports of these products, down from around 76% in 2024. Their share of imports thus remains significant, despite declines in both the value and physical volume of deliveries.

Imports of liquid biofuels reached 2.7 billion euros last year, down 7.9% year on year. Their volume fell by 11.6%. Wind turbines followed the opposite trend. Their import value rose by 40.6% to 0.7 billion euros, while the volume of deliveries increased by 69%.

Wind turbines once again dominated exports last year, with export value reaching 3.1 billion euros, up 10.8% year on year. Export volumes increased by 9.5% year on year. Wind turbines thus accounted for approximately 67% of total exports of the products covered.

Exports of solar panels reached 0.5 billion euros last year. Their value fell by 23.6% year on year, despite a 2.6% increase in volume. Biofuel exports fell by 45.9% to one billion euros, while their volume declined by 46.2%.

China remains a key supplier

Dependence on a single supplier is particularly pronounced for solar panels. China accounted for 98.6% of EU imports last year, maintaining the share held by Chinese manufacturers the previous year.

The ranking of suppliers of wind turbines changed. China accounted for 59.6% of imports and India for 22.2%. China's share rose from 41.3% in 2024, putting the country ahead of India, whose share fell from 48%.

The composition of liquid biofuel imports was also different. Malaysia had the largest share last year, at 21.9%, followed by the United States at 16.1%, Argentina at 12.4% and the United Kingdom at 12.3%. China's share plunged year on year from 24.2% to 1.3%, while the shares of Malaysia and the United States rose significantly.