Data extracted in October 2024
Planned article update: October 2025
Highlights
In 2023, China was the largest origin of extra-EU imports of wind turbines, solar panels and liquid biofuels.
In 2023, the United Kingdom was the largest destination for extra-EU exports of wind turbines and solar panels, the United States for liquid biofuels.
Extra-EU trade in selected green energy products, 2023
This article provides a picture of the international trade in green energy products of the European Union (EU) for three products: wind turbines, solar panels and liquid biofuels. It compares these three groups and shows developments over time of both extra-EU imports and exports. Finally, it shows the main partners for extra-EU imports and exports of each of these three products.
Overall, the EU imports more green energy products than it exports
In 2023, the EU imported solar panels to the value of €19.7 billion, liquid biofuels to the value of €3.9 billion and wind turbines worth €0.3 billion (see Figure 1). The EU import values of solar panels and liquid biofuels in 2023 were much higher than the corresponding EU export values which were €0.9 billion for solar panels and €2.2 billion for liquid biofuels. By contrast, the EU export value of wind turbines in 2023 (€2.0 billion) was much higher than the corresponding value for imports.
(€ billion)
Source: Eurostat Comext DS-045409
The EU import value of solar panels decreased by 12% between 2022 and 2023 (see Figure 2), due to a drop in prices, even though the quantity imported slightly increased by +5%. During the same period the value of EU imports of liquid biofuels decreased by -22% while the quantity fell slightly by 2%. EU imports of wind turbines dropped significantly during this period, with a 66% decrease in value and a 68% decrease in quantity.
(% change with respect to the previous year)
Source: Eurostat Comext DS-045409
Between 2022 and 2023, the exports of wind turbines saw the largest increase in value (+49%) while their quantity increased by 26% (see Figure 3). Exports of solar panels rose by 19% in value and by 37% in quantity. Similarly, exports of liquid biofuels showed a higher increase in quantity compared with value (+63% vs +36%).
(% change with respect to the previous year)
Source: Eurostat Comext DS-045409
Wind turbines: India largest import partner, United Kingdom largest export partner
India (59%) and China (29%) were the origin of most extra-EU imports of wind turbines in 2023 (see Figure 4). The largest extra-EU export destination for wind turbines was the United Kingdom (30%), followed by the United States (18%).
Solar panels: China largest import partner, Switzerland largest export partner
China (98%) was by far the largest partner for extra-EU imports of solar panels in 2023 (see Figure 5). The largest extra-EU export destinations for solar panels were Switzerland (31%) and the United Kingdom (25%).
Liquid biofuels: China largest import partner, United States largest export partner
Almost half of the extra-EU imports of liquid biofuels in 2023 came from China (36%) and the United Kingdom (13%) combined, as shown in Figure 6. Brazil (12%), Malaysia (11%) and Argentina (10%) also had double digit shares in extra-EU imports. The United States (77%) and the United Kingdom (10%) were the largest destinations for extra-EU exports of liquid biofuels.
Source data for tables and graphs
Data sources
EU data is taken from Eurostat's COMEXT database. COMEXT is the reference database for international trade in goods. It provides access not only to both recent and historical data from the EU Member States but also to statistics of a significant number of non-EU member countries. International trade aggregated and detailed statistics disseminated via the Eurostat website are compiled from COMEXT data according to a monthly process.
Data are collected by the competent national authorities of the EU Member States and compiled according to a harmonised methodology established by EU regulations before transmission to Eurostat. For extra-EU trade, the statistical information is mainly provided by the traders on the basis of customs declarations.
EU data are compiled according to Community guidelines and may, therefore, differ from national data published by the Member States. Statistics on extra-EU trade are calculated as the sum of trade of each of the 27 EU Member States with countries outside the EU. In other words, the EU is considered as a single trading entity and trade flows are measured into and out of the area, but not within it.
The EU data reflect the political change in the EU composition. Therefore, the United Kingdom is considered as an extra-EU partner country for the EU. However, the United Kingdom was still part of the internal market until the end of the transitory period (end 2022), meaning that data on trade with the United Kingdom for reference periods till then, were still based on statistical concepts applicable to trade between the EU Member States. As a consequence, while imports from any other extra-EU trade partner are grouped by country of origin, the United Kingdom data reflect country of consignment. In practice, this means that the goods imported by the EU from the United Kingdom were physically transported from the United Kingdom but part of these goods could have been of other origin than the United Kingdom. For this reason data on trade with the United Kingdom are not fully comparable with data on trade with other extra-EU trade partners.
Methodology
According to the EU concepts and definitions, extra-EU trade statistics (trade between EU Member States and non-EU countries) do not record exchanges involving goods in transit, placed in a customs warehouse or given temporary admission (for trade fairs, temporary exhibitions, tests, etc.). This is known as 'special trade'. The partner is the country of final destination of the goods for exports and the country of origin for imports.
Unit of measure
Trade values are expressed in millions or billions (109) of euros. They correspond to the statistical value, i.e. the amount which would be invoiced in the event of sale or purchase at the national border of the reporting country. It is called a FOB value (free on board) for exports and a CIF value (cost, insurance, freight) for imports.
Product codes
The product codes used for the three products shown in this article are:
- Wind turbines: CN code 850231
- Solar panels: CN code 85414300
- Liquid biofuels: CN codes 220720, 382600 and 29091910
Data for solar panels before 2022 is estimated.
Context
Trade is an important indicator of Europe's prosperity and place in the world. The bloc is deeply integrated into global markets both for the products it sources and the exports it sells. The EU trade policy is an important element of the external dimension of the 'Europe 2022 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth' and is one of the main pillars of the EU's relations with the rest of the world.
Because the 27 EU Member States share a single market and a single external border, they also have a single trade policy. EU Member States speak and negotiate collectively, both in the World Trade Organisation, where the rules of international trade are agreed and enforced, and with individual trading partners. This common policy enables them to speak with one voice in trade negotiations, maximising their impact in such negotiations. This is even more important in a globalised world in which economies tend to cluster together in regional groups.
The openness of the EU's trade regime has meant that the EU is the biggest player on the global trading scene and remains a good region to do business with. Thanks to the ease of modern transport and communications, it is now easier to produce, buy and sell goods around the world which gives European companies of every size the potential to trade outside Europe.