Trade between South Africa and China has grown significantly this year following the entry into force, in May, of a tariff exemption regime for certain African products in the Chinese market.

Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said at an event in Pretoria that South African exports to China rose by nearly 25% year-on-year between May and August, while imports from China grew by 23% over the same period.

South Africa has been seeking to rebalance its trade with China, its largest trading partner. In 2025, the country exported goods valued at approximately US$13.5 billion to the Chinese market, while imports from China were nearly double that figure, according to South African Trade Minister Parks Tau.

South African products exported to China include agricultural goods, minerals, and manufactured items. Ambassador Wu Peng said Beijing is attentive to Pretoria’s concerns over the trade imbalance, and expressed confidence that a growing range of higher-value South African products will gain access to the Chinese market in the future.

The push to increase exports to China forms part of South Africa’s broader strategy to diversify its export markets amid deteriorating trade relations with the United States and the prospect of new trade barriers.

Washington has extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) until 2028, which grants preferential trade conditions to eligible African countries. However, South Africa faces the risk of being excluded from the programme due to tensions with the administration of US President Donald Trump over a range of domestic and foreign policy issues, including allegations of persecution of the white population — allegations the South African government has rejected.

Trade Minister Parks Tau said he expects an announcement in early November on whether South Africa will be excluded from AGOA, though he expressed cautious optimism that the country would remain in the programme.