Decoding China’s Record-Breaking 2022 Trade With Africa

Mark RALSTON / AFP

China’s trade with countries in Africa broke a new record in 2022 at $282 billion, up 11% from last year’s $254 billion in two-way trade. 

The data reaffirms China’s position as the continent’s largest bilateral trading partner and shows it’s solidly on the path to displacing the European Union as Africa’s largest regional trade partner (last year the EU did $312 billion of trade with Africa).

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.