China-Africa Trade-Friendly Policy: Zero-Tariff Expansion

In September 2024, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit was successfully held in Beijing. During the summit, China announced the implementation of a zero-tariff policy covering 100% of taxable product categories for all 33 least developed African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China. This policy benefits a wide range of goods, including tires.

This move represents a significant expansion of China's existing policy. Prior to this summit, China had already granted zero-tariff treatment on 98% of taxable product categories for 27 least developed African countries. The newly announced policy extends this preferential coverage further.

This expanded zero-tariff access is driving increased exports of Chinese tires to Africa, fostering mutually beneficial growth within the China-Africa tire trade.

Trade Data Soars: Chinese Tire Companies Gain Significant Traction in African Market

In 2024, China's tire exports to Africa exhibited substantial growth. Illustrating this trend, rubber tire exports to Africa through the Shenyang customs district alone reached 430 million yuan during the same period, marking an 11.4% year-on-year increase. Tire manufacturers in Laizhou City, Shandong Province, also demonstrated robust momentum, achieving impressive year-on-year growth rates of 34.7% in volume and 46.8% in value for their tire exports to Africa.

Executives from multiple tire companies report that their business in the African market has been steadily climbing in recent years, with particularly strengthened cooperation in countries such as Egypt, Libya, and Cameroon. The vast potential and continuously rising demand of the African market are driving more and more Chinese tire enterprises to view it as a priority target for overseas expansion.

Fresh Policy Tailwinds Boost China-Africa Trade as New Blueprint Unfolds
(Changsha, June 15, 2025) – The 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE), held successfully in Changsha, Hunan Province from June 12 to 15, 2025, yielded fruitful outcomes. China and African nations preliminarily reached cooperation agreements totaling over US$11 billion, spanning diverse sectors. This lays a solid foundation for mutual development.

Signaling strong policy support, China announced the implementation of a zero-tariff policy covering 100% of tariff lines for all 53 African countries maintaining diplomatic relations with China. Notably, Eswatini was excluded from this preferential arrangement due to its purported "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan region of China.

This landmark policy move significantly lowers trade barriers, achieving near-comprehensive zero-tariff access for nearly all African nations with formal ties to China. It is poised to propel China-Africa trade relations towards deeper cooperation and higher-level development, fostering a more balanced and sustainable trajectory for bilateral trade.

Capacity Goes Global: Chinese Tire Plants Take Root in African Soil

Recognizing the immense potential of the African market, Chinese tire manufacturers are moving beyond mere exports and embracing a strategic shift towards localized production:

In 2024, Sentury Tire invested 3.4 billion yuan to establish a plant in Morocco, designed with an annual capacity of 12 million high-performance passenger and light truck radial tires.

In 2024, Hubei Aurora Tyre launched a new factory in Tanzania, planning an annual output of 1.2 million truck and bus radial (TBR) tires, accelerating its global footprint.

In June 2025, Fujian Liansen Group announced plans to build a tire manufacturing facility in Angola.

The continuous advancement and refinement of China-Africa trade-friendly policies are not only boosting bilateral trade but also infusing industrial expertise and talent into regions across Africa. This dynamic synergy is powerfully driving mutually beneficial growth within the China-Africa trade partnership.