A 3% rebound in July! Export data for the lighting industry through the first seven months of this year has been released.

According to the latest import and export data released by the General Administration of Customs, in the first seven months of 2026, China’s total lighting product exports amounted to approximately US$28.7 billion, down about 6% year-on-year, accounting for 1.8% of the country’s total electromechanical product exports. In July alone, exports totaled roughly US$4.6 billion, up around 3% compared with the same month last year.

I. Exports of Electric Light Sources and Luminaires Down 4% and 7%, Respectively, Year on Year

In the first seven months, exports of electric light sources reached approximately US$3.1 billion, a decline of about 4% compared with the same period last year. China’s total output of electric light sources was around 16.2 billion units, up 16% year-on-year. Among them, LED light source products accounted for about 11 billion units, an increase of 29% over the previous year. Export volumes of LED bulbs, LED tubes, and LED modules rose by 2%, 5%, and 51%, respectively, while the average export prices for these three categories fell by 9%, 14%, and 23%, respectively, year on year.

Luminaire exports totaled approximately US$21.2 billion, down about 7% year on year, representing 74% of total lighting exports—a decrease of one percentage point compared with the same period last year. Exports of LED fixed luminaires increased by 8% year on year, LED portable luminaires grew by 1%, and LED Christmas string lights expanded by 7%. Meanwhile, only a few specialized products—such as spotlights and floodlights designed exclusively for LED light sources—saw both volume and value rise. Conversely, other LED-based lamps and lighting fixtures intended solely for photovoltaic applications experienced increases in both export value and average unit price.

II. Exports to Non‑EU Markets Up 7%, While Exports to the U.S. Down 13%

By destination, in the first seven months, China’s top ten lighting export markets—including the United States, Germany, Vietnam, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Japan, the Netherlands, India, and Russia—accounted for combined exports of approximately US$13.3 billion, down 8% year on year, or about 46% of China’s total lighting exports, a drop of 1.5 percentage points compared with the same period last year.

In the first seven months, exports to Africa reached approximately US$2.2 billion, up 7% year on year, accounting for about 8% of China’s total lighting exports—an increase of 1 percentage point compared with the same period last year. Specifically, electric light source exports totaled around US$200 million, up about 4%, while luminaire exports stood at approximately US$1.5 billion, up about 8%. Key markets such as Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt continued to grow, with export values increasing by more than 4% year on year.

In the first seven months, exports to European markets totaled approximately US$7.7 billion, essentially unchanged from the same period last year, representing 27% of China’s total lighting exports—an increase of one percentage point compared with the previous year. Electric light source exports were around US$700 million, down slightly by 1% year on year, while luminaire exports stood at approximately US$6.1 billion, down about 4%. Markets such as Spain, France, and Sweden maintained growth rates exceeding 2% annually.

• From January to July, exports to the United States totaled approximately US$5.3 billion, down 13% year on year, accounting for 19% of China’s total lighting exports—a decrease of 1.5 percentage points compared with the same period last year. Electric light source exports were around US$700 million, down slightly by 1%, while luminaire exports stood at approximately US$3.7 billion, down about 17%.

To help businesses expand into international markets and unlock domestic market potential, the China Lighting Appliance Association will continue providing comprehensive services this year. These include organizing participation in major domestic and international trade shows—such as the Ancient Town Lighting Expo, the Shanghai International Building & Engineering Lighting Exhibition, the Russian Lighting Expo, and the Uzbekistan Smart Building Exhibition—to promote overseas outreach; establishing industry exchange platforms like the China Lighting Appliance Industry Standards and Quality Conference, the China Lighting Industry Conference, and the China Road Lighting Forum; and actively advancing efforts to build a dual-circulation development model that integrates domestic and international markets. Companies interested in these initiatives are encouraged to contact the China Lighting Appliance Association.

This article is sourced from the China Lighting Appliance Association, authored by the Association.