According to statistics from Changsha Customs, Hunan Province's imports and exports with Africa totaled 22.59 billion CNY in the first five months of 2026, a year-on-year increase of 5.1 percent. Exports reached 9.99 billion CNY and imports totaled 12.6 billion CNY. Changsha Customs noted that effective May 1, 2026, China implemented a zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China. Since May, the dividends of the zero-tariff policy have been accelerating. Hunan has seen substantial year-on-year growth in imports of specialty African agricultural products, such as coffee and cashews, as well as iron ore, copper ore and concentrates, and copper products. The main features of Hunan's trade with Africa during the first five months are as follows:

General trade accounted for over 80 percent, while barter trade expanded rapidly. In the first five months, Hunan's imports and exports with Africa under the general trade mode stood at 18.09 billion CNY, up 7.2 percent, accounting for 80.1 percent of the province's total trade with Africa during the same period. Trade conducted under the processing trade mode amounted to 2.49 billion CNY. Trade through bonded logistics reached 1.78 billion CNY, a growth of 11.6 percent. Meanwhile, barter trade reached 70.42 million CNY, surging 137.4 percent year on year.

South Africa remained Hunan's largest trading partner in Africa, with multiple-fold growth in trade with countries including Guinea and Zimbabwe. During the period, Hunan's trade with South Africa hit 6.45 billion CNY, up 28.2 percent and accounting for 28.6 percent of the province’s total trade with Africa. Trade with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana totaled 6.53 billion CNY, accounting for 28.9 percent of the total. Over the same period, trade with Guinea, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, and Mali recorded multiple-fold increases.

In the first five months, Hunan’s imports of specialty agricultural products like coffee and wine surged significantly, reaching 15.542 million CNY and 627,000 CNY, reflecting growth rates of 139 percent and 24.7 times, respectively.

Exports were dominated by mechanical and electrical products, with the "new three" products showing strong performance. In the first five months, Hunan's exports of mechanical and electrical products to Africa reached 7.13 billion CNY, an increase of 18.4 percent, accounting for 71.4 percent of the province's total exports to Africa during the same period. Exports of automobiles (including chassis) and solar cells reached 1.53 billion CNY and 180 million CNY, up 128.6 percent and 453.7 percent, respectively. Exports of steel products and tea amounted to 700 million CNY and 130 million CNY, down 31 percent and 29.7 percent, respectively. During the same period, exports of the "new three" products reached 620 million CNY, up 104.6 percent year on year.

Morocco ranked as Hunan's eighth largest trading partner in Africa. In the first five months, Hunan's trade with Morocco totaled 860 million CNY, accounting for 3.8% of the province's total trade with Africa, making Morocco Hunan’s eighth largest trading partner in Africa. Of this total, exports totaled 740 million CNY while imports amounted to 120 million CNY. During the same period, China’s total trade with Morocco stood at 35.87 billion CNY, an increase of 22 percent year on year, making Morocco China's 10th largest trading partner in Africa. Following the full implementation of the zero-tariff policy, Hunan imported 20 million worth of goods from Morocco in May, recording increases both year on year and month on month. Hunan's exports to Morocco were primarily mechanical and electrical products, totaling 500 million CNY, up 8 percent and accounting for 67.9 percent of the province's total exports to Morocco. Among them, exports of automobiles and electrical equipment and apparatus reached 170 million CNY and 71.10 million CNY, up 66.6 percent and 69.7 percent respectively. (By Ouyang Jingzi)

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This is an English translation of the original Chinese version and is provided for reference only. In the event of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.