Hangzhou Customs statistics show Yiwu's first-three-quarter trade with Africa reached 149.73 billion yuan, up 34.7% year on year, a record for the period and about one-fifth of Yiwu's total trade, making Africa its largest single market. Exports were 135.96 billion yuan up 30.2%, and imports 13.77 billion yuan up 103.7%, positive for 11 straight months.
Trade reached 57 African countries and regions, with 26 above 1 billion yuan; 7,152 Yiwu enterprises traded with Africa. Machinery and electronics led exports to Africa at 61.01 billion yuan, up 29%. Since China's zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries took effect on May 1, Yiwu Customs has steered over 500 million yuan of preferential goods and rebated 145 million yuan in duties.
The data reflects Yiwu's maturing role as a two-way hub linking African goods into China and redistributing Chinese small commodities across the continent.
Source: General Administration of Customs / Guangming Daily
