China Surges Past EU in African Exports, But Lags in Imports

China has been rapidly increasing its exports to Africa, catching up with the European Union (EU) in recent years. By 2000, China exported over US$4 billion to Africa, while the EU brought US$50 billion worth of commodities[1]. However, China’s imports from Africa remain significantly lower than its exports, leading to a large trade deficit for the continent[2].

Bilateral trade between China and Africa rose 35% in 2021 from 2020 to $254 billion, with exports from the continent hitting a record $106 billion[2]. China is aiming to surpass the EU’s total trade with Africa by 2030[2]. Nigeria is Africa’s biggest importer from China, while South Africa is the biggest exporter. Other major African exporters include Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)[2].

While African exports to China remain largely composed of unprocessed commodities, the exact composition of this export basket is changing. Oil imports from Africa are declining as China increasingly sources crude oil from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Russia, and other countries in Asia[3]. This shift is attributed to the economic transition in China, as it steers its economy toward a more high-tech, consumption-oriented, and environmentally sustainable growth model[3].

Citations:
[1] https://www.researchgate.net/figure/China-and-the-EUs-exports-to-Africa_fig2_352257941
[2] https://www.theafricareport.com/229297/china-to-overtake-the-eu-as-africas-biggest-trade-partner-by-2030/
[3] https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/05/how-is-chinas-economic-transition-affecting-its-relations-with-africa?center=europe&lang=en
[4] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/06/why-strong-regional-value-chains-will-be-vital-to-the-next-chapter-of-china-and-africas-economic-relationship/
[5] https://www.tralac.org/documents/resources/external-relations/eu/epas/4918-the-european-union-and-africa-partners-in-trade-factsheet/file.html