ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

China's green exports to US surge as AI boom and Iran war lift demand

economy-finance · 2026-06-22

In May, exports of green energy products from China to the United States experienced significant growth amid rising AI advancements and geopolitical factors. Unassembled solar cells skyrocketed by 346% compared to the previous year, totaling nearly $40 million, while shipping volumes surged by 357%. Additionally, lithium-ion battery shipments, a major trade component, rose by over 20% to approximately $780 million. Lead-acid battery exports also saw remarkable gains, soaring by 151% to nearly $6.72 million, with shipments increasing by 253%. Xinyi Shen from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air noted the influence of easing trade tensions on this trend.

Key facts

  • Unassembled photovoltaic cell exports surged 346% year-on-year to $39.96 million.
  • Lithium-ion battery export value rose 20.8% to $780 million.
  • Lead-acid battery export value increased 151% to $6.72 million.
  • Shipment volumes for photovoltaic cells jumped 357%.
  • Lithium-ion battery shipment volumes expanded at a similar pace to value.
  • Lead-acid battery shipment volumes rose 253%.
  • Xinyi Shen is a senior adviser at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
  • The surge reflects both short-term trade policy uncertainty and underlying US energy demand.

Entities

Institutions

  • Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA)

Locations

  • China
  • United States

Sources