China emerges as top import partner for African nations
China has solidified its position as the leading import partner for the majority of African countries, dominating trade relationships across the continent.
In West Africa, countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea count China as their top import partner.
Similarly, in North Africa, China maintains strong import ties with Egypt, Algeria, and Libya. The trend continues in East Africa, where almost all major economies, including Kenya and Ethiopia, rely heavily on China for their imports.
Central Africa follows suit, with most nations having China as their primary import partner, except for Gabon and the Central African Republic, which maintain France as their top partner. In Southern Africa, however, South Africa dominates the import scene, serving as the main import partner for countries like Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique.
China's widespread influence is evident across all African regions, making it the continent's most prominent import partner, followed by South Africa, France, Spain, and Italy. In 2021, Sub-Saharan Africa's major trading partners for exports were China, India, the United States, and South Africa. For imports, the leading partners were China, South Africa, India, the United States, and Germany.
Overall, East Asia and Western Europe continue to be the most significant import regions for Africa, accounting for 26% and 30% of imports, respectively.
