SA shares top China trade spot with Angola

SOUTH AFRICA and Angola took joint first position as China’s top trading partners in Africa last year, according to statistics released by Taku Fundira of the Trade Law Association of SA. He was using data sourced from the Chinese version of the World Trade Atlas www.gtis.com/gta. Angola (19%); South Africa (19%); Sudan (8%); Egypt (6%) and Nigeria (6%) accounted for 58% of all African trade with China in 2007, recording a 25% increase for the period 1995 – 2007. In other interesting highlights: • The value of trade between China and Africa increased by an average 24% between 1995 and 2007, with total trade (imports and exports) of approximately US$ 74 billion (R562bn) in 2007. • Imports into China from Africa increased by 27% over the review period while Chinese exports to Africa rose by a lesser 23%. • The top China imports from Africa in 2007 were mineral products (80%); base metals (4%); precious stones and metals (4%); wood products (2%); and spec class/parts for motor vehicles (2%). • The top China exports to Africa in 2007 were textiles & clothing (13%); machinery (9%); transport equipment (7%); base metals (2%) and footwear (2%).