How China's super-sized market powers African growth

Walk into a supermarket in China today, and you may find more than just familiar domestic produce.

Avocados from Kenya, pineapples from Benin and tangy tangerines from South Africa are increasingly gracing supermarket shelves across China.

These fresh, high-quality African agricultural goods are evolving from niche imports into mainstream consumer favorites, serving as vivid examples of booming China-Africa trade and inclusive win-win cooperation.

Backed by China's zero-tariff preferential policies and unprecedented market access and high-standard opening up, China's super-large market is releasing tangible development dividends, empowering African agricultural upgrade and bringing robust, long-term opportunities for Global South countries.

Since May this year, China has expanded its zero-tariff treatment to cover all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, creating new opportunities for Africa to boost exports and industrialization amid the global headwinds of protectionism.

Official data shows explosive growth in bilateral agricultural trade.

According to the General Administration of Customs of China, China's imports from Africa reached 193.8 billion yuan (about $28.72 billion) in May and June, up 23.5% year on year.

Imports of avocados, apples and oranges surged by 130%, 89.6% and 27.9%, respectively.

Expanding market At the stroke of midnight on May 1, 24 tonnes of fresh South African apples passed through customs at China's Shenzhen Bay Port, becoming the first shipment to benefit from China's zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries.

Since then, Kenyan avocados, South African wine, Zimbabwean blueberries and other quality African specialities have made their way onto supermarket shelves across China, bringing the benefits of the treatment closer to consumers' daily lives.

In recent years, as China‑Africa agricultural cooperation continues to deepen – especially following China's implementation of zero‑tariff measures for African countries – Kenya's avocado industrial chain has been accelerating its shift toward deep‑processing.

Spanning fresh‑fruit cultivation, procurement, processing and export, an emerging industry built around avocado is taking shape across the East African highlands.

The participation of Chinese enterprises has become a key driver behind the transformation and upgrade of local agricultural industries.

As Chinese enterprises ramp up their production lines, an increasing number of local farmers are gaining confidence in avocado cultivation and are willing to expand their planting areas.