Trade between China and Africa grows

China’s bilateral trade with the African continent increased by 23 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022. One reason for this was rising commodity prices. Chinese imports from Africa rose 29 percent to nearly $30 billion. Exports increased 18 percent to $35 billion, according to the South China Morning Post. However, logistics problems at Chinese ports could affect trade in the coming quarters. Adding to the problem is the closure of the Port of Durban after a storm. The South African port handles nearly one-fifth of China-Africa trade – mainly raw materials from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.