South African exports to China rose nearly 25 percent to $5.3 billion between May and August under a temporary zero-tariff arrangement. The bilateral trade surge follows Beijing’s duty-free policy for African nations, driving a 199 percent year-on-year jump in customs declarations as agricultural producers and manufacturers seek expanded Asian market access.
South Africa Issues Thousands of Zero-Tariff Certificates
Between June 1 and August 31, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) had issued 25,975 certificates of origin, as announced by trade, industry and competition minister Parks Tau. These documents allow qualifying goods to bypass customs duties when entering China.
🇨🇳 🇿🇦 Minister Parks Tau addressing the Briefing Reception on China’s Zero-Tariff Treatment to African countries in Pretoria says China is South Africa’s largest trading partner and an important source of investment. #ChinaZeroTariff pic.twitter.com/KcTg70OOnQ
The temporary two-year arrangement, which took effect on May 1 and runs until April 30, 2028, provides an immediate bridge toward a longer-term trade agreement.
Customs declarations climbed 199 percent year on year during the initial months of the scheme. Chinese ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng reported that bilateral trade between the two nations reached nearly $15 billion between May and August, marking a 24 percent increase from the previous year. South African exports totaled $5.3 billion over that period, outpacing the country’s export growth rate of 17 percent, though imports from China reached $9.47 billion.
Agricultural Producers Expand Exports to China
South African agricultural exports to China rose more than 35 percent year-on-year to nearly $500m in the four months following the policy rollout, with citrus, apples, stone fruit, and wine leading the expansion.
Throughout 2025, approximately 11.5-million cartons of citrus were shipped from South Africa to China, representing roughly 6 percent of overall citrus shipments, while the sector globally generated export earnings of about $2.47 billion last year.
South Africa's trade with China has surged this year since Beijing introduced a zero-tariff scheme for all but one Africa nation, a move that gave African exports a competitive edge in the Chinese markethttps://t.co/HiEGsejOUV pic.twitter.com/iNhpAZRZ3A
Ghanaian Industrialists Push for Production Incentives
At the Ghana-China Zero-Tariff Forum 2026, Pearl Naheema Hanson, a Ghanaian industrialist whose company produces handcrafted butterscotch-flavored liqueur, emphasized that businesses must collaborate to meet massive foreign demand.
It is a win-win situation, benefiting both Chinese and Ghanaian exporters. In the end, the numbers that we’re talking about are huge. So, the capacity is a lot, and it’s not something that one company alone can do.
Pearl Naheema Hanson, Ghanaian female industrialist
Let’s move into action: The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, and other relevant agencies must come together to ensure that we work in a network to take advantage of the policy.
Jabir Mohammed, Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School
Namibia Prepares Financial Portfolios for Asian Trade
Standard Bank Group’s partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) provides a financial bridge, offering trade finance, working capital facilities, and cross-border payment solutions to help regional exporters.
Minister Tau stated that ongoing negotiations through the Southern African Customs Union aim to secure an Early Harvest Agreement to establish long-term certainty before the temporary arrangement expires on April 30, 2028.
China’s zero-tariff deal is paying off for South Africa, with exports to China surging nearly 25% amid growing trade tensions with Washington.https://t.co/fEkyg6WhE7