According to manufacturers meeting BloombergNEF Tier 1 criteria as of the first quarter of 2026, annual module production capacity already reaches approximately 1.005 GW.
The ranking shows a market clearly dominated by Chinese companies or companies highly linked to the Chinese industrial ecosystem.
Among the greatest productive capacities are:
- Longi: 120 GW,
- Jinko Solar: 120 GW,
- Trina Solar: 100 GW,
- JA Solar: 100 GW,
- Tongwei/TW Solar: 85 GW,
- Canadian Solar: 61 GW,
- Chint/Astroenergy: 56 GW,
- Risen Energy: 48 GW,
- Aiko Solar: 35.5 GW,
- GCL System Integration: 29.5 GW.
The total figure allows us to understand the speed at which the industry has grown in the last five years.
To put it in perspective: less than a decade ago, a manufacturer with 10 GW of capacity was considered one of the global leaders. Today, several companies exceed 100 GW annually.
One of the most relevant points arises when comparing the installed capacity with the actual shipments of modules during 2025.
According to Solarbe Consulting:
- Jinko Solar led global shipments with between 85 and 90 GW;
- Longi was located near 85 GW;
- Trina Solar and JA Solar reached between 65 and 70 GW;
- TW Solar was between 45 and 47 GW;
- Astronergy reached 35.6 GW;
- GCL SI reached between 25 and 26 GW;
- Canadian Solar was located near 24.5 GW;
- DMEGC recorded 23.2 GW;
- Yingli Solar and TCL Solar ranged between 21 and 22 GW.
The comparison reveals a key situation for understanding the present of the industry: even global leaders operate with utilization levels below their maximum capacity.
Jinko Solar: Volume, Scale and Global Leadership
Jinko Solar is once again positioned as the leading global volume benchmark.
The company combines:
- one of the world's largest manufacturing capacities (120 GW),
- consolidated global presence,
- strong international expansion,
- and historical leadership in law firms.
Their shipments of between 85 and 90 GW show a very high industrial utilization compared to competitors.
Furthermore, it maintains an aggressive strategy of vertical integration and technological expansion at TOPCon.
Longi: Technological leadership under pressure
Longi continues to be one of the giants of the sector and probably the benchmark most associated with technological innovation and efficiency.
With 120 GW of capacity and approximately 85 GW shipped in 2025, the company remains among the largest in the market, although it faces greater challenges than in previous years.
Trina Solar and JA Solar: the battle for the top 3
Trina Solar and JA Solar appear virtually tied in global shipments, with between 65 and 70 GW each.
Tongwei: From Upstream to Industrial Leadership
TW Solar (Tongwei) represents one of the most interesting cases in the market.
The company has historically grown from:
- polysilicon,
- upstream,
- and supply chain.
But today it already appears among the largest global manufacturers of modules.
With 85 GW of capacity and up to 47 GW shipped, Tongwei shows one of the fastest growth rates in the entire industry.
Astronergy and Chint: international consolidation
Astronergy, part of the Chint group, reached 35.6 GW of shipments in 2025.
This allows it to diversify beyond the pure module business.
Canadian Solar: global presence and diversification
Canadian Solar maintains one of the most international profiles in the industry.
Although its capacity (61 GW) and shipments (~24.5 GW) fall short of the Chinese giants, the company retains:
- strong positioning in America,
- solid financial presence,
- and accelerated expansion in storage through e-STORAGE.
It is one of the companies that most clearly evolved from manufacturer to energy developer and integrator.
GCL SI: Volume with a focus on profitability
The presentation released by GCL itself emphasizes a key aspect:
maintain positive margins.
In a context where many companies sacrifice profitability to maintain market share, GCL seeks to differentiate itself by:
- financial stability,
- industrial integration,
- and Tier 1 positioning.
The company appears with:
- 29.5 GW of capacity,
- and between 25 and 26 GW of dispatch.
The relatively close relationship between the two numbers reflects a more efficient industrial utilization than other larger-scale competitors.
The structural problem: global overcapacity
Beyond the differences between companies, the analysis leaves one clear conclusion: the global solar industry is going through a scenario of structural overcapacity.
Total installed capacity far exceeds effective annual demand.
This generates:
- extreme pressure on prices,
- falling margins,
- industrial consolidation,
- fierce competition,
- and financial risk for medium-sized manufacturers.
In other words: the industry can produce much more than the market currently absorbs.