China’s Duty-Free Shift Could Supercharge African Exports

16^th Jun 2025

In a game-changing move, China has officially removed tariffs on imports from 53 African countries—unlocking new lanes for trade and redrawing the continent’s export map.

The new policy, which covers a mix of least-developed and emerging economies, grants countries like Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and Morocco duty-free access to Chinese markets. It’s a strategic recalibration by Beijing aimed at deepening economic ties and rebalancing Africa’s persistent $62 billion trade deficit with China.

The opportunity? Vast. China is the world’s second-largest importer of goods, with an appetite for agricultural produce, processed foods, textiles, minerals and metals—sectors where Africa is increasingly pushing beyond raw exports into value-added territory.

Why This Changes the Game

Africa has long exported raw materials. This shift accelerates the transition to processed and finished goods—textiles from West Africa, shea butter from Ghana, fruit concentrates from Kenya and beyond.

And for industrial platforms built to support scale and compliance, the moment is tailor-made.

ARISE IIP: Positioned for Advantage

For ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP)—which develops and operates raw material-processing and export-focused industrial ecosystems across Africa—the policy shift amplifies what its zones were designed for.

With integrated infrastructure, streamlined logistics and built-in customs support, ARISE IIP’s network of industrial zones in Benin (GDIZ), Togo (PIA), Gabon (GSEZ), Côte d’Ivoire (PEIA) and Rwanda (BSEZ) enables manufacturers to reach global markets—faster, more affordably and now, tariff-free into China.

What This Means for Investors

This isn’t a one-off diplomatic gesture—it’s a long-term supply chain shift. For businesses and investors, three signals stand out:

Margins Get a Lift: With tariffs eliminated, African-made goods can now compete in China on both price and quality—especially in mid-tier consumer categories.
Zones Become Gateways: Africa's top SEZs developed by ARISE IIP act as springboards—offering companies ready-made infrastructure to scale exports fast, without the lag of fragmented logistics or policy gaps.
Risk–Reward Tilts Favorably: Trade certainty improves. And with many zones backed by public–private partnerships and incentive structures, manufacturers can expand with less friction and more clarity.

Zooming Out: The Global Context

China’s move comes at a time when global supply chains are diversifying. With rising costs in Asia and political headwinds in the West, Africa’s blend of young labor, resource depth and improving trade infrastructure is no longer being ignored.

In 2023, Chinese FDI into Africa topped $10 billion—the highest in five years—while African processed exports to China rose by 17%, according to the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.

Tariff-free access amplifies this trend. And for Africa’s emerging industrial champions, it signals a rare alignment of global demand and local readiness.

Looking Ahead

As the world rewires how and where it manufactures, Africa’s industrial zones are no longer peripheral—they’re strategic. This new policy doesn’t just open doors to China. It opens the gates to global competitiveness.

For African exporters, the window is wide open.
For global businesses watching from the sidelines—now might be the time to step in. Invest in Africa now.