China plans to ban export of perovskite, tandem and fluidized-bed polysilicon solar technology; TOPCon and HJT restricted

China's Ministry of Commerce has proposed putting 12 solar-manufacturing technologies on the country's export-control list, banning the export of some outright and restricting others, Reuters reported in a story carried by Business Recorder on 18 October. Public comments close on 15 November 2026.

The proposal is part of a wider revision of the list that also covers artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

What would be banned and what restricted

Fluidized-bed polysilicon is cheaper and uses less energy than the dominant Siemens process, and polysilicon is the raw material of almost every panel. Perovskite and tandem cells promise higher efficiency, which is why both are seen as the next generation of panels. TOPCon is the cell type in most high-efficiency panels sold today.

Until the catalogue is formally updated, exporters must register certain technology transfers abroad.

Why Beijing says it is doing this

The ministry cited national security, saying solar technologies are increasingly used in sensitive fields such as aerospace and defence. It said the aim is to stop technologies "running out of control or being improperly disseminated" while keeping normal scientific exchange open. Reuters has reported that China already curbs exports of solar-manufacturing know-how to India, which is trying to build its own factories, and that the curbs could hit US plans, including Tesla's, to make more panels at home.

What it means for Pakistan

The proposal as reported covers manufacturing technology, the know-how and equipment processes for making cells and polysilicon, not finished panels. Pakistan imports almost all its panels from China, and nothing in the proposal names panel exports, so there is no sign yet of a direct effect on panel prices here. Solar is now about a fifth of the country's electricity (our story on 2025 output).

Where it could matter is any plan to make cells, rather than just assemble panels, in Pakistan: Chinese partners would need export licences for TOPCon or HJT lines, and the newest cell types could not be transferred at all.

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