China’s Hunan Province Boosts Status as African Trade Hub

File image of customs officers at Changsha's Huanghua International Airport in China's central Hunan province inspect fresh-cut roses imported from Africa. Image via Xinhua.

Trade between the African continent and the central Chinese province of Hunan grew to $7.79 billion in 2023. The increase solidifies Hunan’s status as a center of African agricultural trade. The province was integrated into regional transport networks, which positioned it as a fresh commodities hub.

This saw African agricultural imports to the province jump by 90% in the first quarter of 2023. Hunan also hosts the annual China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, which has boosted trade as part of forging “green lanes” for agricultural products from the continent.

  • 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.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Cobus van Staden

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4 Trump’s Contradictory Iran Strategy Leaves U.S. Weaker After War’s End, Says Chinese Commentator
5
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
6
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms

You Might Like

Calls Growing Louder in Kenya to Balance Lopsided Trade With China

All week, numbers have been trickling out of Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics that depict a dangerously lopsided economic relationship with China. The latest data show that last Kenyans $3.9 billion worth of ...

Happiness in Kenya as Avos Reach the Chinese Market

The first consignment of Kenyan avocados finally reached the Chinese market after years of hoop-jumping by Kenyan farmers.  The delivery was officially handed over by Kenya’s ambassador, Mary Muthoni, during a ceremony in Beijing. Reportedly ...

China’s Hunan Province Unveils New Measures to Bolster Trade Ties With Africa

Authorities in China’s central Hunan province introduced a series of new policy and financing measures specifically aimed at boosting trade ties with countries in Africa. The province’s finance and commerce ministries jointly unveiled ...

Kenya Exports to China Surge in First Half of the Year, But Serious Trade Imbalance Persists

At first glance, the January-June trade figures between China and Kenya look promising. Kenyan exports increased by 74% during this period while imports fell by 16%. Officials on both sides are no doubt ...

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.

More about CGSP