China’s trade with Africa hits record high as Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt lead

Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt have become China’s leading trade partners in Africa, with exports to the continent rising by 25% year-on-year to $122 billion in 2025, according to a Bloomberg report.

The surge has already surpassed Africa’s entire trade volume with China in 2020 and is projected to cross $200 billion for the first time.

Construction machinery topped the list of fastest-growing exports in the first seven months of 2025, climbing 63% year-on-year. Shipments of passenger cars more than doubled, while steel exports also saw strong growth. African nations have equally increased imports of Chinese solar panels, which rose by 60% in the 12 months ending in June, based on data from climate think tank Ember.

Despite the rapid expansion, Africa still accounts for only about 6% of China’s total exports, roughly half the volume directed to the United States. However, Nigeria has emerged as a major destination, with the National Bureau of Statistics reporting that China was Nigeria’s largest import source in the first quarter of 2025. Goods worth ₦4.66 trillion were shipped to Nigeria during the period, representing 30.19% of total imports.

The growth has been partly fueled by the U.S.–China trade war, pushing Chinese firms to diversify their markets. Analysts suggest that some goods originally meant for the U.S. are being rerouted through Africa in a practice known as transshipment.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched in 2013, also laid the groundwork for this trade boom. In the first half of 2025, African countries signed $30.5 billion worth of construction contracts with China, five times more than the same period last year. This makes Africa the top regional participant in Xi Jinping’s infrastructure program.

In contrast to rising protectionism in Washington, Xi announced in June that China would remove tariffs on imports from all African nations with diplomatic ties to Beijing. China has also expanded its agricultural imports from Africa, recently approving shipments from Ethiopia, Congo, Gambia, and Malawi, bringing to 19 the total number of African countries with direct access to the Chinese market.

With its vast industrial capacity, China is positioning itself as a key partner in Africa’s development, particularly in sectors like renewable energy, where growing imports of solar panels highlight the continent’s efforts to tackle infrastructure challenges and expand access to electricity.