South African exports to China rise by 25%
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Club of Mozambique
South African exports to China rose by nearly 25% between May and August after Beijing introduced a zero-tariff regime for certain African products. South African imports increased by 23% over the same period, according to Chinese ambassador Wu Peng, who was quoted at an event in Pretoria.
South Africa’s exports to China rose by nearly 25% year on year between May and August 2026, while its imports from China increased by 23%, Chinese ambassador Wu Peng said at an event in Pretoria, according to Reuters. The increase came after Beijing introduced a zero-tariff regime for certain African products in May.
South Africa is seeking to reduce the imbalance in its trade with China, its leading trading partner. In 2025, it exported around 222 billion rand worth of goods to the country, compared with almost double that amount in imports, according to Trade Minister Parks Tau. South African exports include agricultural products, minerals and manufactured goods.
The increase in sales to China comes as Pretoria seeks new markets while its trade relations with the United States deteriorate. Washington has extended AGOA, the US preferential access scheme for African products, until 2028, but South Africa could be excluded from it. Parks Tau expects a US announcement in early November and says he is “cautiously optimistic”, Reuters reports. This uncertainty had already led Pretoria to prepare for a possible withdrawal from AGOA.
