Exports fell 40% in March! Lighting industry export data released in the first quarter

According to the latest import and export data released by the General Administration of Customs, in the first quarter of 2026, my country's lighting product exports totaled approximately US$11.4 billion, a year-on-year decrease of approximately 3.5%, accounting for 1.8% of total mechanical and electrical product exports. Among them, the export volume in March was approximately US$2.5 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 40%. (This article provides a brief introduction to the export situation of the lighting industry in the first quarter of 2026. A more detailed analysis will be published in the 2026 "China Lighting", the journal of the China Lighting Electrical Appliances Association.)

☆ Cumulative exports of lighting products were US$8.8 billion

In the first three months, the overall cumulative export volume of lighting products was approximately US$8.8 billion, a year-on-year decrease of approximately 5%, accounting for approximately 74% of the total exports of all lighting products, a decrease of 1 percentage point from the same period last year. Among them, the export of a small number of products such as Christmas lamps, searchlights and spotlights, and other photovoltaic lamps designed to use only light-emitting diode (LED) light sources maintained growth, with export values increasing by approximately 7%, 2%, and 1% year-on-year. The export of major lighting products such as movable lamps and fixed lamps dropped significantly, with export values falling by 28% and 13% year-on-year.

☆ The total export value of electric light source products is approximately US$1.3 billion

In the first three months, my country's export volume of electric light source products was approximately US$1.3 billion, a year-on-year decrease of approximately 4%; its export volume accounted for 11% of my country's total lighting industry exports, which was basically the same as last year. The total export volume of electric light sources for general lighting is approximately 4.9 billion units, a year-on-year increase of 13%. Among them, the export volume of LED electric light source products was approximately 4.6 billion units, a year-on-year increase of 15%. ☆ The top ten export destinations account for nearly 50% of all exports

Ten countries including the United States, Germany, Malaysia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Spain, and India ranked among the top ten in my country's lighting product exports in the first quarter, with an export value of approximately US$5.3 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 8%, accounting for approximately 47% of my country's lighting exports.

☆ Exports to the European market increased by 8% year-on-year

In the first three months, my country's lighting product exports to the European market were approximately US$3.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of approximately 8%; accounting for approximately 27% of my country's total lighting product exports, an increase of 3 percentage points compared with the same period last year. Among them, exports to Russia were approximately US$380 million, a year-on-year increase of 51%. The export value of lighting products to Europe was approximately US$2.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3%; the export value of electric light source products to Europe was approximately US$300 million, a year-on-year increase of 5%.

☆ Exports to the African market maintain growth

In the first three months, my country's lighting product exports to the African market were approximately US$850 million, a year-on-year increase of approximately 13%; accounting for approximately 7% of my country's total lighting product exports, a basic increase of 1 percentage point compared with last year. The export value of lamps was approximately US$600 million, a year-on-year increase of 13%; the export value of electric light sources was approximately US$90 million, a year-on-year increase of 4%.

☆ The export volume of the Middle East market dropped by 2 percentage points compared with the previous two months

In the first quarter, my country's lighting product exports to the Middle East market were approximately US$940 million, accounting for approximately 8% of my country's total lighting product exports, a decrease of 2 percentage points from the previous two months. The export value of lamps was approximately US$700 million, a year-on-year increase of 6%; the export value of electric light sources was approximately US$100 million, a year-on-year decrease of 3%.

☆ Exports to the United States fell by 22%

Exports to the United States from January to March were approximately US$2.3 billion, a year-on-year decrease of approximately 22%, accounting for approximately 18% of my country’s total exports. Among them, the export value of lighting products to the United States was approximately US$1.4 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 25%; the export value of electric light source products to the United States was approximately US$260 million, a year-on-year decrease of 17%.

☆ Exports from major producing areas such as Guangdong and Jiangsu have grown significantly

From the perspective of each production area, in the first quarter, Guangdong and Zhejiang lighting exports ranked first and second respectively. Among them, Guangdong's exports were approximately US$4.5 billion, a year-on-year increase of 20%; accounting for approximately 40% of my country's lighting product exports, an increase of 8 percentage points compared with the same period in 2025. Zhejiang's exports were US$2.8 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2%; accounting for approximately 25% of my country's lighting product exports, an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the same period last year. The foreign trade exports of the lighting industry in Jiangsu, Xinjiang and other places have increased. Among them, Jiangsu's export volume was approximately US$740 million, a year-on-year increase of 26%; Xinjiang's export volume was approximately US$540 million, a year-on-year increase of 60%.

In order to help enterprises expand the foreign trade market and activate the development potential of the domestic trade market, the China Lighting and Electrical Appliances Association will continue to provide various services to the industry in 2026, by organizing enterprises to participate in this year’s Uzbekistan Intelligent Building Exhibition (A Brief Analysis of the Central Asian Lighting Export Market Situation), the Russian Lighting Exhibition We will go global through other international exhibitions, build China Road Lighting Forum (the 21st China Road Lighting Forum opened in Hangzhou), China Lighting Industry Conference, China Lighting Electrical Industry Standards and Quality Conference and other industry exchange and cooperation platforms, and actively promote the industry to build an international and domestic dual-cycle development pattern. Companies interested in related activities can contact the China Photographers Association.
Contact information Contact person: Yan Zhongshu Tel: 010-65135873 / 15810990628 (same number on WeChat)
The above article comes from China Lighting and Electrical Appliances Association, author China Photography Association