China dominates global demand for Africa's mineral resources
Despite US' concern about China's increasing influence in Africa, China's position as the continent's largest trading partner, especially as a buyer of the continent's mineral resources continue to outstrip other countries'.
Experts say the recent visit to Africa by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his promise that President Biden would host a US-Africa Leaders Summit is part of effort to curtail China's increasing influence on the continent.
From Ghana to Guinea and Zimbabwe to South Africa, China holds significant influence in mining and importing most of the continent's base metals and mineral resources.
China imports most of the chromium, nickel, iron ore and cobalt produced in Africa with significant share of global import of platinum from Africa.
China's import of Africa's chromium ballooned in the last few years
Global import value of chromium from Zimbabwe and South Africa
30m
68m
196m
1.4b
1.1b
1.1b
1b
1.1b
2.4b
1.8b
France
France
United Kingdom
Russia
Germany
US
China
China’s chromium import of
$941 in 2008
jumped to $2.5bn
a decade later
2016
2002
2008
2010
2012
2014
2020
2004
2006
2018
30m
68m
1.4b
1.1b
1.1b
1b
1.1b
2.4b
1.8b
196m
Russia
United Kingdom
France
France
Germany
US
China
China’s chromium import of
$941 in 2008 jumped to $2.5bn
in a decade
2012
2018
2020
2014
2016
2010
2002
2006
2008
2004
30m
68m
1.1b
2.4b
1.8b
196m
1.1b
1.4b
1b
1.1b
Russia
United Kingdom
France
France
Germany
US
China
China’s chromium import of
$941 in 2008 jumped to $2.5bn
in a decade
2016
2002
2008
2010
2012
2014
2020
2004
2006
2018
Between 2008 and 2012, China and Germany were the main importers of Africa's chromium, a base metal used to manufacture stainless steel and mirror-finish coating on iron. However China gradually eclipsed all other countries in import value. The country imported $2.5 billion dollar worth of Chromium in 2017 alone, up from less than a billion dollars a decade earliers.
Almost all cobalt exports go to China where tech companies manufacture their products
Cobalt export from the main producing countries - DR Congo, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya
22m
1.5b
354m
415m
225m
480m
1.8b
389m
600m
112m
USA
China
2002
2004
2006
2012
2014
2016
2008
2010
2018
2020
354m
22m
225m
480m
1.8b
1.5b
389m
415m
600m
112m
USA
China
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
22m
225m
480m
1.8b
1.5b
354m
389m
415m
600m
112m
USA
China
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
More than 70 percent of the world's cobalt is produced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country dealing with over 70 percent poverty rate and a prolonged armed conflict.
Cobalt which is used in batteries, electric cars manufacturing of mobile phones and computers among others, is expected to see an upsurge in demand as electric car manufacturing expands globally.
China took over most of Africa's nickel import from Finland
Nickel export from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe
170k
159m
650m
77m
98m
138m
921m
347m
530m
308m
Canada
Finland
Russia
China
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
170k
77m
98m
138m
159m
650m
921m
347m
530m
308m
Canada
Finland
Russia
China
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
170k
77m
98m
138m
159m
650m
921m
347m
530m
308m
Canada
Finland
Russia
China
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
Like Cobalt, nickel is also vital to manufacturing of stainless steel, mobile devices and EV batteries used in battery electric cars and hybrid electric cars.
Even though Finland is still a major importer, China which currently holds more than 60 percent share of global EV battery market, is taking the lead in nickel import from Africa.
China is a major player in platinum import but behind UK and Germany
Platinum import from mostly South Africa, small portion from Zimbabwe
3.1b
16b
16.5b
16b
5.2b
8.5b
18b
14b
20b
27b
$58b worth
of platinum
imported from
Africa in 2021
Switzerland
Japan
Italy
USA
United Kingdom
Germany
China
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
3.1b
16b
16.5b
5.2b
8.5b
18b
14b
16b
20b
27b
$58b worth
of platinum
imported from
Africa in 2021
Switzerland
Japan
Italy
United Kingdom
USA
Germany
China
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
3.1b
16b
16.5b
5.2b
8.5b
18b
14b
16b
20b
27b
$58b worth
of platinum
imported from
Africa in 2021
Switzerland
Japan
Italy
USA
United Kingdom
Germany
China
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum, a pure metal more valuable than gold
Its worth is the reason it is one of the most valuable metals imported from Africa annually. China may not be the highest importer but is certainly one of the largest destinations for Africa's platinum.