China exported about US $122 billion worth of goods to African countries in the first eight months of 2025  and at the current growth pace, exports to the continent could exceed US $200 billion by year-end.

This surge comes even as China is engaged in a trade war with other major economies. African demand for machinery, heavy equipment, automobiles and metal products  particularly for infrastructure, mining, and industrial development appears to be driving much of the growth.

However, the boom in Chinese exports is deepening the trade imbalance between China and Africa. During the same period, Africa exported roughly US $87 billion to China, meaning many African countries are facing a widening deficit.

What It Means for Africa:

• Increased availability of industrial and consumer goods, infrastructure equipment, vehicles, and metals for African markets  potentially spurring economic growth, infrastructure build-out, and industrialisation.
• But the growing trade deficit raises concerns around dependency on imports, weakening of local manufacturing, and balance-of-payments pressures.
• It underscores how global geopolitics, including tariff wars, are redirecting trade flows, sometimes benefiting emerging economies through cheaper imports and increased supply options.