2025 Operational Overview of the Photovoltaic Patterned Glass Industry
Against the backdrop of the accelerated global energy transition, China's photovoltaic patterned glass industry, as a critical link in the photovoltaic industry chain in 2025, exhibited distinct characteristics of "orderly capacity expansion, rapid technological iteration, and continuous structural optimization," moving towards a new stage of high-quality development.
I. Industry Operational Data: Synergistic Growth in Output and Efficiency, Continuous Optimization of Supply-Demand Structure
From January to November 2025, the cumulative national output of photovoltaic patterned glass reached 23.5 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 18.7%, demonstrating robust supply capabilities. The industry achieved a total operating revenue of 185 billion yuan and a total profit of 21 billion yuan, representing year-on-year growth of 15.2% and 12.8%, respectively, with the industry maintaining a healthy overall profitability level.
Regarding the supply-demand relationship, downstream demand for photovoltaic installations remained strong. In the first three quarters of 2025, newly added national photovoltaic installed capacity exceeded 120 GW, a year-on-year increase of 25%, directly driving stable demand for photovoltaic glass. The overall industry capacity utilization rate remained within a reasonable range around 85%. The market shifted from past "aggregate oversupply" to the current "structural tight balance." Specifically, this manifests as: tight supply of high-transmittance, ultra-thin glass compatible with high-efficiency cell technologies like N-type TOPCon and HJT, while supply of standard specification products remained ample.
II. Capacity and Layout: Deepening of Clustered Development, New Capacity Expansion Becomes More Rational
(1) Highly Concentrated Capacity Distribution, Industrial Base Advantages Strengthened
China's photovoltaic patterned glass production capacity continues to concentrate in regions with resource and energy advantages. The combined capacity of the five major industrial bases—Fengyang in Anhui, Beihai in Guangxi, Xuzhou in Jiangsu, Shahe in Hebei, and Qujing in Yunnan—now accounts for over 70% of the national total capacity. Among them, Fengyang, Anhui, leveraging its unique high-quality quartz sand resources and a complete industry chain ecosystem, has developed into the world's largest photovoltaic glass production base.
(2) Steady Pace of Capacity Expansion, Clear Structural Optimization Features
Compared with the aggressive expansion in earlier years, industry capacity growth in 2025 became more rational and optimized. Twelve new photovoltaic patterned glass production lines were added throughout the year, adding a daily melting capacity of 9,500 tons, with the growth rate decelerating year-on-year. Crucially, nearly all new capacity was for high-quality ultra-clear patterned glass production lines, while traditional ordinary patterned glass capacity accelerated its phase-out, indicating a pronounced trend of high-end substitution.
III. Technological Innovation and Product Evolution: Thinner, Higher Transmittance, and Functionalization Become Core Directions
(1) Continuous Breakthroughs in Transmittance and Efficiency Enhancement
Improving glass transmittance is a direct path to increasing module power generation efficiency. In 2025, the mainstream industry product transmittance generally reached 94.2% or higher. Leading enterprises, through optimizing patterning processes and anti-reflective coating technology, have pushed transmittance beyond 94.5%, delivering significant power gains for photovoltaic modules.
(2) Accelerated Thinning Process, Significant Cost Reduction Effects
Reducing glass thickness is an important cost-reduction path for the industry. In 2025, the market share of glass with a thickness of 2.0mm and below increased to 65%. Ultra-thin 1.6mm photovoltaic glass also began mass production and application. Compared to traditional 3.2mm glass, using ultra-thin glass can reduce module weight by over 40% and significantly decrease glass substrate usage, offering substantial economic benefits.
(3) Functional Products Expand Application Scenarios
To meet diversified market demands, various types of functional photovoltaic glass rapidly emerged. Beyond mainstream high-transmittance glass, differentiated products like colored glass, anti-dust glass, and self-cleaning glass, suitable for distributed PV and BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics), saw their market share steadily increase. Meanwhile, the share of double-glass modules remained stable around 45%, driving synchronous growth in demand for backsheet glass.
IV. Cost and Competitive Landscape: Strengthened Cost Control, Increased Market Concentration
(1) Balancing Raw Material and Energy Costs Amidst Fluctuations
In 2025, the price of the main raw material soda ash decreased year-on-year, alleviating some cost pressure. However, high-quality low-iron quartz sand remained price-resilient due to resource scarcity. Regarding energy costs, the industry continued to reduce average natural gas consumption and overall energy intensity by promoting technologies like larger furnaces, full-oxygen combustion, and waste heat recovery, effectively countering energy price fluctuations.
(2) Further Increase in Market Concentration, Differentiation in Competition Tiers
The industry's CR5 (concentration ratio of the top five enterprises) reached 68% in 2025, with leading firms consolidating their advantages in technology, scale, customer base, and supply chain. Concurrently, market competition exhibited hierarchical differentiation: leading enterprises engage in scale-based competition relying on large furnaces and global presence; numerous small and medium-sized enterprises focus on niche markets like specialty glass and BIPV customization, pursuing a differentiated development path of "specialization, refinement, uniqueness, and innovation."
(3) Solid International Competitiveness, Sustained Export Growth
China's position in the global photovoltaic patterned glass supply chain remains formidable. Product exports reached 4.8 million tons in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 22%, accounting for approximately 78% of the global market share. In key overseas markets like Southeast Asia and Europe, Chinese products maintained very high market shares due to their exceptional cost-performance ratio and stable supply capabilities.
V. Policy and Future Outlook: Green Regulations Lead the Way, Clear Path for High-Quality Development
(1) Industrial Policies Guide Standardized Development
In 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology optimized capacity replacement policies, offering support for photovoltaic patterned glass projects with advanced energy efficiency and environmental performance. This aims to encourage high-quality capacity and phase out outdated capacity. Simultaneously, as more enterprises are incorporated into the national carbon market, the industry faces increased pressure and motivation for carbon emission reduction, driving the green and low-carbon transition.
(2) Challenges and Future Trends
The industry still faces challenges such as securing high-quality quartz sand resources and navigating international trade barriers. Looking ahead, clear industry trends include:
In summary, in 2025, China's photovoltaic patterned glass industry focused not only on steady scale growth but also on enhancing intrinsic quality and optimizing structure. Through continuous technological iteration, cost control, and green transition, the industry is consolidating its global leading advantage, providing a solid and reliable foundation of critical materials to support the ongoing cost reduction and efficiency improvement of the photovoltaic industry and to help achieve global energy transition goals.
