China-Africa trade soars on spike in commodity prices

Two-way commerce dwarfs that between U.S. and continent

A container port in Cape Town Docks, South Africa. Trade between Africa and China surged to a record high in 2022. © Getty Images

ROBERT BOCIAGA, Contributing writer

January 27, 2023 11:41 JST

KAMPALA, Uganda -- Africa's bilateral trade with China surged to a record high last year, highlighting how Beijing's commercial influence over the continent continues to dwarf that of the U.S.

Rising commodity prices and Beijing's push to promote imports from Africa pushed trade up 11% to $282 billion in 2022. China's exports to Africa were $164.49 billion, according to Chinese customs authorities, while imports reached $117.51 billion.