Huawei and Sungrow have emerged as the leading global solar inverter manufacturers in the first half of 2025, according to the latest report from Wood Mackenzie. The two companies topped the rankings with scores of 93.9 and 93.7, respectively. The report evaluates 23 major manufacturers from seven countries, covering around 90% of global shipment volumes in 2024. The rankings are based on eight performance criteria, reflecting both market scale and operational capabilities.
The Wood Mackenzie report highlights that the top 10 manufacturers now account for 71% of the global solar inverter market. Experts say that while shipment volumes remain important, other factors such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, service quality, and stable supply chains are increasingly defining competitive advantage. Timothy Shen, Senior Research Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, noted that the global inverter market in 2025 is led by a diverse set of power-electronics companies that combine scale with innovation.
A key trend identified in the first half of 2025 is the growing focus on ESG practices. Six of the top 10 manufacturers achieved an EcoVadis ranking of silver or higher, placing them among the top 15% of companies worldwide for sustainability. The report also points out that all the top 10 manufacturers now offer warranty extensions of 20 years or more. This demonstrates confidence in product durability and aligns the lifespan of inverters more closely with solar modules, reducing long-term risk for developers and asset owners.
Innovation remains a strong differentiator despite ongoing pricing pressures. Eight of the top 10 companies reinvest more than 6% of their revenue into Research & Development. These investments support improvements in digitalization, power-conversion technologies, faster product refresh cycles, and expanding patent portfolios.
Global manufacturing strategies are also evolving. Four of the top 10 companies now maintain production facilities across multiple regions, including China, Europe, India, the United States, Southeast Asia, and Israel. This regional diversification helps companies manage trade risks, comply with local content requirements, and ensure reliable supply chains.
Wood Mackenzie also assigns a Grade A designation to manufacturers that meet industry best practice benchmarks. Companies achieving Grade A demonstrate strong performance across multiple criteria, reducing operational risks for developers, EPCs, and asset owners. Grade A status reflects excellence in ESG and CSR, R&D investment, capacity utilization, and other key operational areas.
The Wood Mackenzie ranking is published twice a year and evaluates manufacturers based on eight weighted criteria, including ESG/CSR, after-sales service, R&D, supply chain stability, capacity utilization, certifications, financial conditions, and manufacturing experience. Data is collected through vendor surveys, public filings, proprietary databases, and direct conversations with manufacturers. If two companies have a score difference of 0.2 or lower, they are awarded the same rank, ensuring fairness in closely matched performances.
Overall, the first half of 2025 shows a market led by Huawei and Sungrow, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and global supply chain strategies shaping the competitive landscape.
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