Nwali Chidozie
A new report from Bloomberg reveals that Chinese exports to Africa have surged to unprecedented levels in 2025, reaching $122 billion and already surpassing the continent’s total trade volume with China for the entirety of 2020.
This explosive growth, a 25% jump year-on-year, puts Chinese exports on a trajectory to exceed $200 billion for the first time.
The data underscores a significant shift in global trade dynamics, with Africa emerging as a crucial growth market for China amid escalating trade tensions with the United States.
- Total Exports: Chinese exports to Africa hit $122 billion so far in 2025.
- Growth Rate: This represents a 25% increase from the same period in 2024.
- Historical Context: The current export value already exceeds the $176 billion in total trade volume between China and Africa in 2020, and the $178.76 billion in Chinese exports to Africa for the full year 2024.
- Top Importers: The primary African destinations for Chinese goods are Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt.
With U.S. tariffs impacting trade routes, Chinese manufacturers and exporters are aggressively pursuing new markets. Africa, with its rapidly expanding population and developing economies, has become a prime target for this diversification strategy.
Chinese firms have secured major contracts for large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa, from railways and industrial parks to ports. This has led to a massive increase in the demand for Chinese-made construction machinery and materials. Exports of construction machinery alone have surged by 63% in the first seven months of 2025.
However, the Chinese yuan (CNY) has weakened against the US dollar (USD) in 2024 and 2025. For example, the USD/CNY exchange rate saw an annual increase of 0.34% as of August 2025, reaching 7.1546.
This depreciation makes Chinese products priced in yuan cheaper for foreign buyers who pay in dollars. This, combined with falling prices for many Chinese products, has spurred demand among businesses and consumers.
Despite this robust growth in exports, the trade relationship remains heavily skewed in China’s favor. While China’s exports to Africa are booming, African exports to China, primarily raw materials like crude oil, copper, and iron ore, are growing at a slower pace.
However, Beijing is taking steps to address this imbalance. In a move to facilitate greater access for African products, China has exempted import tariffs on certain goods from a number of African nations and has been expanding its imports of agricultural products from countries like Ethiopia, Congo, and Malawi.
The current trajectory solidifies China’s position as Africa’s largest trading partner for the 16th consecutive year.
