In the last 14 years, South Africa has maintained its position as China’s top trading partner in Africa. The trade volume between the two countries reached US$27.5 billion in the first half of this year according to China’s General Administration of Customs. During this period, imports from South Africa increased by 10.7% to US$17.29 billion year on year, while Chinese exports to South Africa declined by 18.6% to US$10.2 billion.
South Africa mainly exports minerals and metals to China, but there has been an uptick in the import of products such as soybeans, wine, rooibos tea, aloe gel, and citrus fruits. Over the years, South Africa has been a major supplier of metals like gold, diamonds, and platinum to China. However, China is now looking to diversify its imports by focusing more on agricultural products, aiming to decrease its reliance on countries such as the United States and Australia.
The newly appointed Chinese ambassador to South Africa, Wu Peng, stated in a local interview that China is taking steps to expedite the export of food products from South Africa. He mentioned that efforts are underway to finalize export protocols for additional South African goods, including wool, dairy products, pet food, and wild aquatic products. Ambassador Wu emphasized China’s commitment to expanding its trade relations and expressed readiness to open its large market to all nations, including South Africa.
Later this year, South Africa is expected to start exporting avocados after the two countries signed a deal at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg last year. South Africa will become the third African country after Kenya and Tanzania to export avocados to China. Some South African agricultural products, including wine, rooibos tea and aloe gel, are already very popular in China.
Beijing is looking to strengthen its trade ties with African countries as part of its strategy to reduce its dependence on countries like the US and Australia, particularly for the supply of soybeans – a critical component in the Chinese agricultural industry. With the world’s largest pig population, China relies heavily on soybeans as a primary source of nutrition for its livestock. Soybean meal is the most common source of protein in poultry and pig feeds.
Market analysts suggest that by importing goods such as wool and pet food from South Africa, China could effectively free up arable land within its own borders, stimulating domestic agricultural productivity. This move could potentially enhance China’s food security and boost its overall agricultural sustainability.
The trade relationship between China and the African continent is characterized by distinct bilateral trade patterns. China stands as the largest trade partner for Africa, with trade volumes steadily increasing over time and peaking at a historic high of $282 billion in 2023. Despite these significant figures, Africa’s share in China’s global trade is relatively small, accounting for only 4.7 percent of China’s total trade.
China’s trade with BRICS countries
During the first quarter of this year, China’s trade with other BRICS members reached 1.49 trillion yuan (about 209.7 billion U.S. dollars), showing an 11.3 percent increase compared to the previous year. This trade value represented 14.7 percent of China’s total foreign trade during the same period. Specifically, China’s exports to Brazil and imports from Brazil grew by 25.7 percent and 30.1 percent year on year.
Furthermore, trade between China and Russia expanded, with notable growth in traded products such as energy, automobiles, as well as general machinery and equipment. Additionally, trade between China and India saw an 8.5 percent increase in the first quarter, marking growth for the fifth consecutive quarter. China has become India’s biggest trading partner with $118.4 billion of two-way commerce in 2023-24.
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