Imports of bulk commodities become a new highlight of bilateral trade between Guangdong and Africa

In a recent press conference held on October 21 in Guangzhou, Zhang Ke, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of Customs, highlighted the growing importance of bulk commodity imports in the bilateral trade between Guangdong and Africa. In the first three quarters of this year, Guangdong imported copper worth 9.25 billion yuan from Africa, marking a 15.8% increase, while crude oil imports surged to 3.54 billion yuan, reflecting a staggering 104.4% growth. Additionally, sugar imports skyrocketed to 160 million yuan, an impressive increase of 18.5 times compared to the previous year.

Zhang shared that the total import and export value between Guangdong and Africa reached 202.55 billion yuan in the same period, of which exports comprised 157.58 billion yuan and imports totaled 44.97 billion yuan.

“Trade cooperation between Guangdong and Africa is deepening, with industrial collaboration becoming increasingly close,” Zhang remarked. He noted that intermediate goods trade from Guangdong to Africa saw an import and export value of 113.85 billion yuan, representing a modest 1.1% increase and accounting for 56.2% of Guangdong’s total trade with Africa.

Moreover, in the first three quarters of this year, Guangdong’s exports of electromechanical products to Africa amounted to 99.51 billion yuan, comprising 63.1% of total exports to the region. Exports of general machinery, computers and components, and mobile phones grew by 19.3%, 17.7%, and 12.1% respectively. Exports of ships, automobiles, and motorcycles also saw notable increases of 37.9%, 157.6%, and 8.6%.

In recent years, Guangdong has continued to strengthen trade ties with Africa, resulting in significant growth in import and export volumes. According to customs statistics, the trade scale between Guangdong and Africa expanded from 14.3 billion yuan in 2000 to 271.03 billion yuan in 2023, achieving an average annual growth rate of 13.6%.