China’s Trade With Africa Accelerates as Industrial Exports Surge and Surplus Widens
China’s exports to Africa grew 26% in 2025, led by machinery, vehicles and light manufacturing, while imports expanded only modestly.
China’s exports to Africa grew 26% in 2025, led by machinery, vehicles and light manufacturing, while imports expanded only modestly.
Industrial demand is concentrated in the U.S., China and the EU, while a new generation of emerging markets is expanding in global production.
China’s crude steel output has stabilised near peak levels while India expands rapidly, reflecting a gradual rebalancing of global steel demand.
Upstream mineral supply is globally distributed, but China remains the dominant actor in the midstream and downstream battery ecosystem.
India provides the region's industrial scale and Bangladesh is driving the fastest export-led expansion.
Manufacturing is expanding steadily in absolute terms, but India’s growth model remains firmly services-led.
Asia accounts for over half of China’s trade, but growth momentum is shifting toward developing regions, especially Africa and Latin America.
With commodity exports down from 2021, faster growth in machinery, electronics and transport imports has narrowed Australia’s trade surplus.
The Philippines is ASEAN’s most domestically anchored growth platform, combining demographic depth with diversified external exposure.
Exports remain anchored in machinery and higher-value manufacturing, while trade flows have reoriented toward Asia and diversification partners.