Africa is rapidly becoming one of the fastest-growing markets for Chinese goods, as tariffs imposed by Donald Trump’s administration reshape global trade flows for the world’s largest manufacturing hub.
Chinese exports to Africa surged 25% year-on-year to $122 billion in the first seven months of 2025, according to Bloomberg calculations based on China Customs data. The continent, home to 1.5 billion people, has now overtaken other major regions in terms of growth pace, with total shipments already surpassing the full-year 2020 level and on track to exceed $200 billion for the first time.
By contrast, demand from the United States — historically one of China’s biggest buyers — has slumped under Trump’s 25% tariffs, further accelerating Beijing’s pivot toward emerging markets.
“Chinese exporters have done a genuinely impressive job of diversifying into emerging markets in recent years, including in Africa,” said Christopher Beddor, deputy China research director at Gavekal Dragonomics. He added that a weaker yuan has also boosted the competitiveness of Chinese goods across the continent.
The trade boom is being fueled by infrastructure demand under President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has seen Chinese firms win contracts for projects ranging from railways to industrial parks. As a result, shipments of construction machinery to Africa jumped 63% year-on-year, while car exports more than doubled. Steel products also recorded strong double-digit gains.
Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt remain the top African buyers, together with Liberia and Algeria accounting for 44% of China’s exports to the continent.
Still, the trading relationship remains lopsided, with Beijing running an even larger surplus with Africa than last year. Some analysts suggest that certain goods originally intended for the U.S. market are being rerouted through Africa, a tactic known as transshipment.
The surge comes against the backdrop of intensifying trade tensions with Washington. Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), more than 30 African nations previously enjoyed duty-free access to U.S. markets. But Trump’s new tariffs have eroded those advantages, opening the door wider for Beijing.
In contrast, Xi Jinping has pledged to remove levies on imports from African nations with diplomatic ties to China. In June, Beijing expanded agricultural imports from Ethiopia, Congo, Gambia, and Malawi, bringing the total number of African countries with access to China’s market to 19.
Despite the momentum, Africa’s share of China’s total exports remains relatively small at about 6% — roughly half the U.S. share. Even so, Bloomberg data highlights Africa as the standout growth market for Chinese trade in 2025, underscoring Beijing’s strategic shift in response to U.S. protectionism.
