Africa’s Export Growth Accelerates as China’s Role Continues to Expand
Africa’s exports reached a new high in 2025, but the export base remains highly concentrated, and China has become the largest single destination
Africa’s Trade Is Shifting Increasingly Toward China
China’s share of Africa’s trade has expanded sharply since 2001, with imports from China now matching Europe’s share
Africa’s Export Growth Remains Commodity-Led, with Scale Concentrated in a Handful of Economies
Exports have grown steadily since 2015, but minerals, fuels and metals still dominate, while five countries account for half of the total
Africa’s Import Demand Continues to Grow as Industrial and Consumer Markets Expand
Machinery, electronics, fuels and industrial inputs dominate Africa’s imports, and China remains the continent’s largest supplier
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 and the Global Critical Minerals and Battery Supply Chain Landscape
Upstream mineral supply is globally distributed, but China remains the dominant actor in the midstream and downstream battery ecosystem.
Transition Metal Supply Expanded in 2025, Control Remains Concentrated
Copper and lithium led output gains in 2025, while the top three producers still control 70-90% of most key metals.
Concentrated Processing, Dominant Manufacturing: China’s Dual Control of the EV Battery Value Chain
China’s dominance in battery-grade processing and cell manufacturing leaves global EV production dependent on two stages of the supply chain.
China’s Mineral Imports Stabilise at Structurally High Levels
Bulk mineral imports stabilised at elevated monthly values in 2024-2025, while non-bulk imports trended higher in aggregate.
Zijin Mining: China’s Flagship Global Metals Firm
Rapid growth, astute deal-making and a widening footprint across strategic metals have transformed Zijin into a diversified, global mining firm.