14
Oct
Synopsis
• The compound growth rate of China’s total trade with Africa shows that total trade between China and Africa increased by 25% between 1995 and 2013. Over this period Chinese imports from and exports to Africa increased by 29% and 22%, respectively.
• During the 2012/2013 period, the value of total trade between China and Africa increased by approximately 6% from an approximate total of US$ 198 billion in 2012 to approximately US$ 210 billion in 2013. Over this reporting period Chinese imports from Africa increased by approximately 3% whilst Chinese exports to Africa grew by approximately 9%. In value terms, imports increased from US$ 113 billion to US$ 117 and exports increased from US$ 85 billion to US$ 93 billion for the years 2012and 2013. This is a marked decline in growth as Chinese imports to and exports from Africa for the reporting period 2011/2012 increased by 19% and 17% respectively.
• The top twenty products imported by China from Africa in 2013 accounted for approximately 96% of China’s total imports from all African countries, while the top five import products accounted for 82% of total African imports for the year. This indicates that China’s imports from African countries are highly concentrated. China’s key imports from Africa in 2013 were mineral products (58%), Other unclassified goods as grouped under HS 98 (26%), base metals (6%) and precious stones andmetals (5%).
• When considering exports, the top twenty products China exported to Africa in 2013 represented only 31% of the total Chinese exports to Africa. This is a clear indication of the diversity of Chinese export products which is reinforced by the fact that the top five Chinese export products to Africa accounted for only 12% of total Chinese exports to Africa. The main export products which are mainly value-added manufacturing products included machinery (26%), transport equipment (10%), textiles and clothing (8%), footwear (4%) and plastic products (4%).
• When considering regional blocs, SADC2 was both the most important regional destination in terms of China’s imports and exports.
Read the full synopsis and its complementing spreadsheet on tralac’s website: http://www.tralac.org/resources/our-resources/4795-africa-china-trade.html