Solar panel prices in Pakistan have jumped sharply in the early months of the year, pushing clean energy systems further out of reach for many households and small businesses.
Across major city markets, buyers are now paying much more for widely used Chinese panels, especially in the higher wattage categories. Retailers say the change has been fast and hard to ignore.
On average, prices of Chinese solar panels in the 585-watt, 645-watt, and 720-watt segments have increased by about Rs. 5,000 per unit.
A 585-watt panel, which sold for Rs. 16,000 to Rs. 17,000, now costs around Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 21,000. The 645-watt option has moved from nearly Rs. 20,000 to about Rs. 24,000 to Rs. 25,000.
The biggest rise, however, has hit the 720-watt category. Prices in this range have climbed to roughly Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 35,000, compared with Rs. 22,000 to Rs. 25,000 earlier.
According to Saleem Memon, a solar panel importer and vice president of the Karachi Electronics Dealers Association, global material costs are playing a major role.
He said that higher silver and copper prices have pushed up production expenses for Chinese manufacturers. Because of this, the per-watt cost of solar panels has increased from Rs. 22 to Rs. 33 over the past five months.
Saleem Memon added that strong local demand is adding more pressure on prices. In addition, further hikes in China could lift the per-watt rate to Rs. 40 in the coming months. Taxes on imports of Chinese solar panels have also contributed to the upward trend, he said.
At the same time, competition among different panel technologies continues to shape market pricing. Even so, Pakistan still holds large inventories, as imports remained high over the last two years.
The impact is not limited to panels alone. Solar battery prices have also moved higher. Over the past month, battery rates linked to solar systems have increased by about 10%. As a result, the overall cost of switching to solar power in Pakistan is rising, even as demand for alternative energy continues to grow.