China wants more from Africa — can local businesses meet the demand?

China is one of the world’s biggest consumer markets, and for African businesses looking to grow beyond their home markets, the opportunity is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

But opportunity does not automatically translate into trade. Exporters still need to navigate issues such as scale, regulation, trusted buyer relationships, payment certainty and the practical challenge of meeting the volumes a market like China can demand.

Speaking on HOT Business with Jeremy Maggs, Luthando Vuba, Head of International Trade at Standard Bank, said the Africa-China trade relationship is already beginning to broaden beyond the traditional commodity and extractive sectors.

Agriculture and processed agricultural products are among the areas where Vuba sees growing potential, particularly as China continues to diversify its trading relationships and secure supply for its large domestic market.

Listen to Luthando’s full conversation with Jeremy Maggs below:

That opportunity is gaining momentum through China’s zero-tariff framework for eligible African exports. According to Standard Bank’s latest thought-leadership research, the arrangements, which came into effect on 1 May 2026, are already helping qualifying products enter China with lower import duties. For African exporters, reduced landed costs can mean more competitive pricing, greater scope to diversify export destinations and a stronger position when approaching Chinese buyers.

The benefits are becoming tangible. Standard Bank cites early shipments of South African apples and wine, Kenyan coffee and South African cut flowers among examples of products entering China under the framework and generating tariff savings. But lower tariffs alone do not guarantee success: businesses still need reliable routes to market, sufficient supply capacity and efficient ways to get paid.

African businesses with export-ready products — particularly existing and prospective exporters and agribusinesses — are among those well placed to explore the opportunities.

One of the most important considerations, however, is capacity.

Vuba explained that when Chinese importers show interest, the volumes they require can sometimes exceed what an African exporter is immediately able to supply. While that can present a challenge, it can also give businesses greater confidence when considering investment in production and export capacity.

Just as important is trust.

For many businesses, the challenge is not simply finding a buyer, but knowing that the buyer is credible and able to transact. Standard Bank’s Africa-China Trade Solutions offering is designed to help selected exporters connect with vetted Chinese buyers, while also supporting businesses with negotiations, regulatory requirements, language assistance and access to partners that can help with marketing and distribution in China.

So what does it really take for an African business to turn interest in China into a viable export opportunity? Jeremy Maggs spoke to Luthando Vuba about where the opportunities are emerging, the barriers businesses still face, and the practical steps needed to build trusted trade relationships. Listen to the full conversation below.

Vuba said Standard Bank’s relationship with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) gives the bank added confidence when introducing clients to established distributors, retailers and e-commerce platforms in China.

That support extends well beyond introductions. The broader offering includes trade finance, renminbi (RMB) payment and foreign-exchange solutions, Letters of Credit and Guarantees, insurance and logistics support designed to help businesses execute and scale trade once an opportunity has been identified.

Payments are an important part of making that trade viable. Many Africa-China transactions are still invoiced in US dollars, which can introduce additional currency conversions, costs and delays. Settling eligible transactions directly in RMB can reduce some of that friction and help exporters preserve more of the price advantage created by lower tariffs.

Behind these payments is the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), which provides the infrastructure for clearing and settling cross-border RMB payments. Standard Bank says it was the first African bank to become a direct CIPS participant and is now live on the system across ten African markets. Together with its ICBC partnership, this connectivity helps African businesses access China’s financial system and supports faster, more efficient RMB payments.

The combination matters: zero tariffs can make an eligible African product more competitive on arrival in China, while efficient payment and settlement capabilities can make the transaction easier to complete. Alongside trusted buyer connections, trade finance and logistics support, these practical tools can help turn increased market access into sustainable export relationships.

For African businesses, the China opportunity is therefore about more than simply finding demand. It is about being export-ready, building trusted relationships, understanding the market and having the financial and operational capacity to deliver — and be paid efficiently — when opportunity arrives.