Solar power sales grow in Asia

Asia, led by Japan, has become the largest market for China's solar power products, as exports to Europe plummet amid trade disputes, an industry official said on Tuesday.

Sales of solar cells, modules and related products to Europe fell about 62 percent last year to $3.7 billion. In contrast, sales to Asian customers soared 124 percent to $5.5 billion, according to the solar division of the China Chamber of Commerce for the Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products.

Sun Guangbin, secretary-general of the chamber, told the Intersolar China Conference that sales to Europe contracted starting in 2012, after the European Union launched an anti-dumping probe into Chinese solar products.