SHENZHEN, Dec 5 (Reuters) - China's solar module exportswere 58 gigawatts in the first three quarters of the year,compared to 41.6 GW for the whole of 2018, with manufacturersturning overseas after a slowdown in new domestic projects, anindustry association said on Thursday.

Wang Bohua, the vice-chairman of the China PhotovoltaicIndustry Association, told a conference that the total value ofthe country's solar component exports hit $17.74 billion overthe first three quarters of 2019 and could exceed $20 billionfor the whole of the year.

China's decision to slash subsidies for new solar projectshas caused a decline in new projects. Wang said new capacityadditions were 16.99 GW in the first three quarters of 2019,down significantly from a year ago.

(Reporting by Muyu Xu and David Stanway; Editing by ChristianSchmollinger) ((david.stanway@thomsonreuters.com; +86 21 2083 0066; ReutersMessaging: david.stanway.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))