Cadmium Telluride Market Report 2026

The cadmium telluride market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $5.99 billion in 2025 to $6.6 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to commercialization by early adopters, government renewable incentives and feed in tariffs, development of large scale sputtering production lines, cost advantages versus some alternative thin films, vertical integration by major manufacturers.

The cadmium telluride market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.72 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for utility scale low cost pv, improvements in cdte cell conversion efficiency, tighter environmental regulations driving recycling programs, expansion into emerging renewable markets, r&d into tandem and heterojunction applications. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of cdte in utility scale solar, scale up of low temperature roll to roll manufacturing, consolidation among cdte material suppliers, regulatory focus on cadmium handling and compliance, diversification into non solar applications for cdte.

The escalating adoption of renewable energy sources is set to drive the expansion of the cadmium telluride market in the foreseeable future. Renewable energy, derived from naturally replenishing sources such as sunlight, wind, and water, represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional energy sources. Cadmium telluride plays a pivotal role in advancing renewable energy utilization as a cost-effective and efficient material utilized in the production of photovoltaic solar cells. These cells have the capability to convert absorbed sunlight into electricity, thereby contributing to the growth of renewable energy generation. For instance, data from reports published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in December 2023 revealed a substantial increase in renewable electricity generation, reaching 30.1 TWh in Quarter 3rd of 2023. This surge, representing a 6.8% uptick compared to the same period in 2022, was fueled by the addition of 2.9 GW of new renewable capacity, particularly in solar PV and wind installations. As renewables' share of total electricity generation reached 44.5%, the increasing utilization of renewable energy sources emerges as a primary driver propelling the growth of the cadmium telluride market.

Major companies in the cadmium telluride (CdTe) market are focusing on developing technological advancements such as bifacial thin-film CdTe photovoltaic modules to increase energy yield, reduce operating temperatures, and optimize land use in utility-scale solar installations. A bifacial thin-film CdTe module uses a cadmium telluride semiconductor layer deposited on glass with a transparent back contact, enabling sunlight absorption from both the front and rear sides to capture reflected light and boost annual energy generation compared with traditional monofacial crystalline silicon modules. For example, in June 2023, First Solar, Inc., a U.S.-based solar module manufacturer, introduced the Series 6 Plus Bifacial thin-film CdTe module. The product features a transparent back contact for bifacial energy production, infrared-transmitting rear glass that lowers module temperature, enhanced durability, and higher energy yield per watt, building on their established CdTe platform while supporting optimized performance in large-scale utility solar projects.

In April 2024, ZSW, a German research center specializing in solar energy and hydrogen, partnered with First Solar to advance thin-film tandem solar technology on a gigawatt scale, focusing on performance and efficiency improvements. The collaboration will center on optimizing thin-film materials to enhance solar spectrum interaction, thus boosting efficiency. ZSW will contribute its expertise in CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) thin-film technology, while First Solar will bring its eco-efficient, low-carbon cadmium telluride-based solar modules. First Solar, Inc. is a U.S.-based solar company known for manufacturing cadmium telluride thin-film solar modules.

Major companies operating in the cadmium telluride market are General Electric Company, Amptek Inc., First Solar Inc., Abound Solar (United Power), 5N Plus, Green-tech, Kurt J. Lesker Company, AVANCIS GmbH, Janos Technology LLC, Global Solar Energy Inc., Antec Solar Energy AG, Calyxo GmbH, Lucintech Inc., Advanced Solar Power (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., PrimeStar Solar, D2 Solar LLC, MaTecK GmbH, Reel Solar, Xunlight Corporation, ShanghAI Chaori Solar Energy Science & Technology Co. Ltd.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs have raised the landed cost of imported CdTe powders, substrates, and deposition equipment, squeezing margins for manufacturers that rely on cross border supply chains. This primarily impacts powder and crystal producers as well as module manufacturers exporting into regions with new import duties, with Asia Pacific exporters and import-dependent markets in Europe and North America most affected. Increased component costs can slow new project rollouts and shift procurement strategies. On the positive side, tariffs are accelerating local manufacturing investments, encouraging regional supply chain diversification, and stimulating development of domestic recycling and material recovery capabilities.

The cadmium telluride market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides cadmium telluride market statistics, including cadmium telluride industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a cadmium telluride market share, detailed cadmium telluride market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the cadmium telluride industry. This cadmium telluride market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Cadmium telluride is a stable crystalline compound formed from cadmium and tellurium, exhibiting a high melting point of 1041°C and a vapor pressure of zero at ambient temperatures. Its primary application lies in thin-film solar cell technology, providing an efficient and cost-effective means of converting sunlight into electricity.

The main types of cadmium telluride products include powder, crystal, and others. In this context, powder refers to a finely ground or pulverized substance consisting of small, individual particles. Powdered cadmium telluride finds use in the fabrication of thin-film solar cells, contributing to the production of efficient and lightweight photovoltaic devices. These applications span across solar batteries, semiconductors, laboratory equipment, and others, catering to various end-users such as residential, commercial, industrial, and utility sectors.North America was the largest region in the cadmium telluride market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the cadmium telluride market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the cadmium telluride market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The cadmium telluride market consists of sales of flexible solar panels, diodes, memory chips, transistors, and thin-film solar modules. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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