A cargo ship carrying foreign trade containers departs from Qingdao Port, East China’s Shandong Province, on May 18, 2025. Photo: VCG
Ahead of the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, the General Administration of Customs of China released upbeat trade figures, highlighting the robust growth and vitality of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.
Since the launch of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000, the total value of trade between China and Africa has grown from less than 100 billion yuan ($13.9 billion) to 2.1 trillion yuan in 2024, marking an over 20-fold increase and with an average annual growth rate of 14.2 percent, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the China-Africa trade index jumped to a record high of 1,056.53 points in 2024, up from the base value of 100 points set in 2000, the customs said.
According to data released earlier by the Ministry of Commerce, China-Africa trade reached $295.6 billion in 2024, up 4.8 percent year-on-year, marking consecutive records for the fourth year in 2024. China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 straight years.
China’s vast market continues to offer significant opportunities for African products. For instance, about 90 percent of South Africa’s annual pecan production is exported to China, which has helped the country become the world’s third-largest pecan producer, the commerce ministry said.
Global Times
