China to eliminate all customs duties on Africa

China will eliminate all customs duties on imports coming from 53 African countries, except for Eswatini, effective May 1.

Beijing aims to give African countries unimpeded access to one of the world’s largest markets, while the new measure covers a wide range of products.

Eswatini is excluded from the scheme as the sole country in Africa recognizing Taiwan’s independent Republic of China statehood, instead of the People’s Republic of China.

The China-Africa trade volume has grown rapidly in recent years, rising from $10 billion in 2000 to $114 billion in 2010 and $187 billion in 2020 — before surging to $278 billion in 2023, $295.6 billion in 2024, and $348 billion in 2025, driven by the improving economic relations between the parties ⁠over the past two decades.

China’s exports to Africa over this period surpassed imports.

China exported $179 billion to Africa in 2024, while Africa’s exports to China reached a range of $99–116 billion, according to China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC).

Chinese exports to Africa reached $225 billion, while Africa’s exports to China totaled $123 billion by 2025, marking a trade deficit of over $60 billion in 2024 and around $100 billion in 2025.

China maintains its position as Africa’s largest trading partner as well as the largest source of exports to the continent.

The world power accounted for $82 billion of Africa’s global exports in 2024, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made up $41 billion, and Italy and France each contributed $35 billion, according to the UN’s global comparative data.

China’s dominance in Africa’s foreign trade shows a massive gap when compared with other trading partners, as China accounts for 22% of Africa’s total trade and 25% of the continent’s imports come from China.

African exports to China also climbed over the years, in parallel with the total trade volume’s expansion, albeit limited to certain products.

Around 69% of Africa’s exports to China have been oil, gold, copper, aluminum, and iron ore.

This trend points to African exports’ heavy reliance on natural resources, while the share of agricultural and industrial products in exports remains relatively limited.

Most of Africa’s exports to China rely on raw materials and natural resources, which indicates that product diversity remains limited despite rising trade volume.

*Writing by Emir Yildirim