China's exports to Africa are soaring as trade to U.S. plunges

China has racked up a $60 billion trade surplus with Africa so far in 2025, nearly surpassing last year's total, as Chinese companies redirect trade to the region while President Donald Trump's tariffs crimp the flow of goods into the United States.

Through August, China exported $141 billion worth of goods and services to Africa, while importing $81 billion, according to data released by the Chinese government Monday. The widening trade imbalance with Africa stems from surging exports of Chinese-made batteries, solar panels, electric vehicles and industrial equipment.

The swell in exports to Africa, along with record volumes of goods sold to Southeast Asia and Latin America, underscores the resilience of Chinese manufacturers in finding new markets for the products their factories continue to churn out in enormous quantities.

China has long been the biggest trading partner for the region. But the flow of Chinese-made goods has never been more important as the trade war with the United States rages on and the growth of China's domestic economy slows. In August, China's exports to the United States plunged 33% while those to Africa grew 26%.

The boom in trade to Africa is apparent on the streets of Kampala, Uganda's capital city.

In a bustling neighborhood full of electronics shops, most of the solar panels crowding the interior of nearly every storefront had one thing in common. They were made in China.

One shop owner, Mwiine Joseph, said Chinese solar panels had edged out rival offerings from Europe and India over the past decade. He estimated that nearly 99% of the solar brands on offer were made in China. At the end of the day, the products from China could not be beat on price.

"I only look for cheap solar to sell if I am to compete with others in the market," said Mwiine, 38. "This is what the Chinese are giving us."

It was not just the solar panels. Nearly everything in the small and crowded electronics shop, from light bulbs to generators, was also made in China.

For more than a decade, China has invested heavily in building infrastructure throughout the continent as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. The projects have deepened Beijing's influence across Africa, creating business opportunities for Chinese companies and providing access to valuable raw materials.

This year, the Trump administration has gutted foreign aid to Africa, leaving a host of health and development initiatives in limbo. It also targeted many African countries with tariffs, including a 30% duty on goods from South Africa.

Trump initially threatened a 50% tariff on imports from Lesotho, forcing the textile-dependent country to declare a national state of disaster. The rate was reduced to 15%, which is still expected to hurt Lesotho. It was among nearly two dozen African countries that had sent certain products to the United States without any import taxes under a law passed by Congress in 2000.

As the United States pulls back from Africa, China is presenting itself as an economic counterbalance. In June, Beijing said it would waive nearly all tariffs for 53 African countries. China was sending a message: It was committed to nurturing a fruitful, mutually beneficial relationship with Africa.

Xinhua, China's main state-run news agency, claimed in an editorial in January that China had created more than 1 million jobs in Africa in the last three years, while helping the region build roads, railways, bridges and ports over the previous quarter-century.

What Beijing portrays as a marriage of convenience is most apparent in the solar energy sector. Although China dominates all aspects of the industry, Chinese solar companies are struggling to survive, plagued by cutthroat competition and overproduction that has driven down prices and eroded profitability. However, plummeting prices have spurred a solar energy boom in Africa, where there is a desperate need for energy.

As a result, solar is "taking off" in Africa, according to Ember, an energy tracking group. Solar panel imports from China rose 60% in the last 12 months, and 20 African countries imported a record amount over that period, Ember said.

In Uganda, many Chinese solar manufacturers have established distribution offices in Kampala, allowing retailers to obtain products quickly and avoid the hassle of importing them from China.

Walter Cuccu, managing director of W. Water Works, a water and solar energy installation company, said Chinese solar companies were prevalent in Uganda and were setting up branches across the continent. He said more than eight Chinese companies have distribution centers in the city.

He said the companies were competing aggressively with one another, driving down prices. He estimated that solar panel prices have fallen 40% over the last 12 months.

Cuccu said European competitors were not investing in the sector in Africa like the Chinese firms.

"They will discover when it's too late that the Chinese have already taken over," he said.

It's not just clean energy. The surge in Chinese exports to meet Africa's industrial needs is staggering. In the first five months of the year, steel shipments to Africa rose nearly 30%. Deliveries for Chinese agriculture, construction and shipbuilding machinery all rose more than 40%. In addition, electric motors and generator exports rose more than 50%, according to China's most recent customs data.

For consumer products, the gains are equally eye-opening. Chinese exports of automobiles rose 67% in the first five months of 2025, including a doubling of shipments in May alone. China already dominates other key sectors: Four of Africa's five biggest smartphone brands are Chinese, with Huawei and Xiaomi tallying the biggest market share gains this year.

For years, African leaders have expressed concern about what they perceive as a lopsided relationship with Beijing, with China devouring Africa's natural resources while flooding the market with its manufactured goods.

The deluge of Chinese exports put African countries in a hard spot, threatening to undermine their efforts to develop high-value industries of their own. Yet policymakers feel they must stay in China's favor, said David Omojomolo, Africa economist for Capital Economics.

"China is really the only game in town," he said.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.