China-Africa trade reached $312.11 billion in the first nine months of 2026, representing a 22 per cent increase year-on-year, as Beijing’s expanded zero-tariff policy begins to open new commercial opportunities for African exporters.
The growth highlights the expanding economic relationship between China and African countries, with preferential market access helping agricultural producers gain a stronger foothold in the Chinese market while creating opportunities for investment, logistics, processing and cross-border trade.
Introduced on May 1, 2026, the expanded zero-tariff arrangement removes import duties on products from 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China, extending preferential access to economies that were previously outside the earlier arrangement.
The policy is particularly significant for African businesses seeking to diversify export destinations, reduce the cost of accessing international markets and increase sales to China, the world’s second-largest economy.
Early trade figures indicate that agricultural exports are responding positively to the new market access arrangements. Imports of African peanuts into China increased 4.4 times, while frozen strawberry imports rose by 113 per cent. Avocado shipments also increased by 82 per cent.
The figures demonstrate the commercial potential of the Chinese market for African agricultural commodities, particularly as China seeks to diversify its sources of food imports and strengthen supply-chain partnerships with African economies.
Zero tariffs create new export opportunities for African businesses
The policy covers 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing. It builds on China’s December 2024 decision to grant zero-tariff treatment across all tariff lines for 33 African least-developed countries, extending preferential access to another 20 countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana and Morocco.
For the additional 20 countries, the arrangement runs from May 1, 2026, to April 30, 2028, as negotiations continue towards longer-term China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development agreements.
The commercial impact is already visible in individual shipments. A 516-tonne consignment of Egyptian oranges entering Shanghai on May 1 benefited from the new arrangement, saving its importer approximately 320,000 yuan ($47,000) in tariffs.
A separate shipment of 24 tonnes of Kenyan avocados cleared customs in Shanghai on the same day, saving approximately 26,000 yuan in import duties.
Such savings can improve profit margins for importers, make African products more price-competitive and encourage Chinese distributors to increase procurement from the continent.
China is also strengthening customs facilitation through upgraded green channels for African agricultural products, streamlined quarantine procedures and risk-based inspection systems. These arrangements are particularly important for businesses trading in perishable commodities that require faster clearance and reliable transportation.
Logistics infrastructure is becoming another important component of the expanding commercial relationship. Cargo flights between Addis Ababa and China’s Ezhou Huahu International Airport have increased to seven weekly services, supporting shipments of flowers, coffee and other time-sensitive products.
During the first nine months of 2026, the route handled 456 cargo flights, while the volume of China-Africa cargo moving through the airport reached 36,000 tonnes, doubling from the corresponding period last year.
Maritime transport is also expanding. The China-Africa general cargo shipping route through Yantai Port recorded more than eight million tonnes of cargo during the year, representing a 93 per cent increase, according to Chinese trade reports.
Trade imbalance presents an industrialisation challenge
Despite the expansion in commercial exchanges, the growing trade relationship remains characterised by an imbalance between African exports and Chinese manufactured goods entering African markets.
During the first nine months of 2026, China’s exports to Africa reached approximately $202.98 billion, while imports from African countries stood at $109.14 billion.
This means Africa recorded a trade deficit of approximately $93 billion, reflecting the continent’s continued reliance on exports of raw materials, minerals, energy and agricultural commodities, while importing machinery, electronics, vehicles and manufactured products from China.
The imbalance raises questions about how African economies can use preferential access to the Chinese market to strengthen their domestic industries rather than simply increase exports of unprocessed commodities.
China’s zero-tariff initiative could help address this challenge by encouraging Chinese companies to invest in African production and processing facilities.
Such investments would allow agricultural products, minerals and other commodities to undergo more processing within Africa before being exported to China, creating employment, supporting local suppliers and expanding manufacturing capacity.
For Kenya, increased Chinese demand for coffee, tea and avocados could support agricultural exporters, while investment in processing, packaging and cold-chain infrastructure would help businesses capture more value.
Similarly, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire could benefit from improved access for cocoa products, while South African citrus producers and Egyptian fruit exporters gain additional opportunities to expand their presence in Chinese distribution networks.
However, zero tariffs alone cannot guarantee increased exports. African businesses must meet Chinese quality standards, sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, certification procedures and rules of origin. Governments will also need to address financing constraints, inadequate storage facilities and high transportation costs.
For the continent’s private sector, the opportunity is to move beyond commodity exports towards processing, manufacturing and stronger participation in international supply chains.
As China and African countries deepen their economic engagement, the success of the zero-tariff arrangement will ultimately be measured not only by the value of bilateral trade but also by how much investment, industrial capacity, employment and export earnings African economies generate from access to the Chinese market.
