Africa’s trade relationship with China has exploded in early 2025 and it’s not just about big numbers, it’s about a shifting global landscape. In the first five months of this year alone, trade between Africa and China surged to a record-breaking US $134 billion, marking a 12.4% increase from the same period in 2024 (Etefe, 2025). That’s the highest figure ever recorded between January and May and it’s sending a powerful signal: Africa is rising, and China is watching.
For the sixteenth year running, China remains Africa’s top trading partner. But what’s even more impressive is the depth behind this partnership. In addition to trade, China has committed over US $21 billion in development assistance and injected US $1.85 billion in investments across various African sectors—all within just five months (Etefe, 2025). These numbers aren’t symbolic; they represent concrete roads, factories, digital infrastructure, and green innovations taking shape across the continent.
At the heart of this wave was the Fourth China–Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, where nearly 5,000 companies from both sides inked deals worth US $11.39 billion. Even more compelling: over 83% of all contracts signed across the four expos held to date have already been implemented. In a world where many summits end in handshakes and little action, China and Africa are actually putting ink to earth (Etefe, 2025).
Looking back, the transformation is staggering. Trade has leaped from just US $10.5 billion in 2000 to US $282.1 billion in 2023. Investment grew from less than US $500 million to over US $40 billion during the same period (Wikipedia, 2025). This is no longer a story about aid—it’s about partnership, power, and future positioning.
Ghana is stepping into the spotlight, too. High-level diplomatic meetings and a new MoU with a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer show the country’s intent to not just participate in this wave but lead in it.
Still, this growth poses questions: Will Africa leverage this momentum to build resilient, self-reliant economies? Or will it risk becoming too dependent on a single partner?
One thing is clear: Africa is no longer waiting to be invited to the global table—it’s building one with its own hands.
References
Etefe, J. (2025, June 23). Africa–China trade hits US$134bn in first 5 months of 2025. The Business & Financial Times. https://thebftonline.com/2025/06/23/africa-china-trade-hits-us134bn-in-first-5-months-of-2025/
