ESSAY 2: Current Situation and Prospect of Green Channel for African Agricultural Products Exporting to China

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JANUARY 2026

by Yuxin Tang

Abstract

On December 1, 2024, South Africa became the first African country to assume the G20 presidency, establishing the theme of "Unity, Equality, and Sustainability". As the continent with the largest concentration of developing countries and the largest developing country, China and Africa share similar historical experiences, face common economic development tasks, and have extensive common economic interests in international affairs. In recent years, agriculture and food security have become one of the global focuses. Under the G20 framework, China-Africa agricultural cooperation is closely related to global issues, and the coordinated development of bilateral agricultural trade is of far-reaching significance for promoting cross-regional agricultural cooperation.

Keywords: Green channel for agricultural products, China-Africa trade, Agricultural cooperation, Food security

1. Introduction

Since Africa's decolonisation, China has carried out extensive agricultural investment to alleviate Africa's food security issues. Starting from the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), China-Africa agriculture has been firmly committed to improving agricultural productivity. However, although agriculture is the pillar industry of Africa, it is mainly self-sufficient for personal consumption. Therefore, agricultural production mainly depends on natural resources, while biodiversity and the length of the growing season are affected by the quantity of cultivated land and water resources. Despite ongoing domestic and international debates on the efficiency of China's agricultural support to Africa, the model of China-Africa agricultural cooperation has demonstrated remarkable success.

From the establishment of FOCAC (2000s) to 2020, China has hosted various China-Africa summits to demonstrate its commitment to helping Africa address food security issues. The agricultural sector has proposed multiple strategies, including establishing agricultural demonstration centres aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity across the African continent. Official development assistance provided by the Chinese government to African countries has increased significantly (Siméon, Li & Sangmeng, 2022). China's advantages in agricultural experience have helped African countries improve agricultural productivity and meet their practical needs. Since 2001, the Chinese government has dispatched agricultural technical experts to more than 20 African regions, training agricultural farms to independently carry out agricultural development projects, which has been achieved through the establishment of Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centres (ATDCs) in Africa (Ya & Pei, 2022).

Although China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, issues such as unbalanced trade structure and large deficits in African countries remain prominent. Despite Africa's abundant and high-quality agricultural products—such as cocoa (world's No. 1 production), Nigerian peanuts (world's No. 2 production)(Ya & Pei, 2022), Côte d'Ivoire cashews (accounting for 20% of global output), and Ethiopia as the birthplace of coffee—most African agricultural products primarily flow to European and American markets. China's import volume is only $4.256 billion, long remaining in a "depressed" state with huge trade potential yet to be unleashed.

The Report on China-Africa Economic and Trade Relations 2023 released during the 2023 expo shows that in recent years, Africa's agricultural exports to China have grown at an average annual rate of 11.4%, making China the second-largest destination for African agricultural exports. With the deepening of cooperation, China continues to expand the "green channel" for African agricultural products to China, accelerating the quarantine and access procedures.

Establishing a "green channel" for African agricultural products under the new development pattern of "dual circulation" not only meets China's needs for consumption upgrading and enriches import sources but also optimises the import structure from Africa, increasing foreign exchange income and local employment in African countries. However, compared with Europe and the United States, China's imports of African agricultural products have long been in a "depressed" state, and the huge trade potential remains untapped. In the future, China and Africa should closely follow the artery of "dual circulation", tap the potential of "China-Africa economic and trade cooperation", and continue to expand imports of African agricultural products (Tang, 2022).

2. Literature Review

2.1 Current Situation: Coexistence of Policy-driven and Practical Achievements

2.1.1 Sustained Growth in Trade Scale, with China Becoming an Important Agricultural Market for Africa

China-Africa agricultural trade has shown a significant growth trend since the 21st century. Data analysis (Yang, 2019) found that from 2001 to 2017, China's agricultural imports from Africa grew at an average annual rate of 14.96%, reaching $2.01 billion in 2017, making Africa an important source of China's agricultural imports.

Notably, under the "green channel" policy, the export growth of African characteristic agricultural products to China has accelerated. For example, Kenyan fresh avocados achieved export to China within half a year after obtaining quarantine access in 2022, reflecting the efficiency of policy implementation. Tang (2022) mentioned that China's agricultural imports from Africa reached $4.256 billion in 2020, making it the second-largest export destination for African agricultural products, with sesame, cocoa and other products accounting for more than 40% of China's import market.

2.2 Gradual Improvement of Policy System: Tariff Reduction, Quarantine Facilitation and Platform Construction

China has implemented zero-tariff policies for agricultural products from the least developed countries in Africa since 2005. As of 2021, 98% of tariff items from 33 African countries have been granted zero-tariff treatment, significantly reducing the export costs of African agricultural products. Under the framework of FOCAC, China has clarified the expansion of imports of non-resource products, such as cotton and sugar, from Africa through the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035.

The General Administration of Customs prioritises the quarantine and access procedures for African agricultural products through the "green channel", combining risk assessment processes to shorten the access cycle. For example, Tanzanian sesame and Ethiopian coffee achieved export to China through rapid assessment. Xie (2024) mentioned that China has built 24 agricultural technology demonstration centres in Africa, which indirectly promote the efficiency of quarantine access by improving local agricultural product quality through technology transfer.

2.3 Prospect: Potential Release and Path Optimisation

2.3.1 Growth Space Driven by Market Demand

Against the backdrop of China's consumption upgrading, the demand for African characteristic agricultural products (cocoa, coffee, and nuts) continues to rise. It is predicted that under the "dual circulation" pattern, China's imports of African agricultural products are expected to exceed $20 billion by 2030, especially the proportion of high-value-added processed products will increase. Chinese consumers have a growing preference for organic and original ecological agricultural products, leaving market gaps for African green tea, honey, and other products.

2.3.2 Technological Cooperation and Capacity Enhancement: From "Blood Transfusion" to "Haematopoiesis"

Agricultural Technology Transfer and Demonstration: China has promoted technologies such as hybrid rice and water-saving irrigation in Africa. For example, the hybrid rice cultivated by Yuan Longping's team in Madagascar has a yield 2-3 times that of local varieties, enhancing food supply capacity. Feng (2025) reported that China has built agricultural industrial parks in Africa, introducing agricultural machinery and processing technologies to promote the transformation of agricultural products from raw material export to deep processing.

Policy Coordination and Digital Empowerment: Utilise blockchain technology to achieve agricultural product traceability, simplify quarantine procedures; expand "single window" docking to realise real-time sharing of trade data (Yuan, 2022). Proposed learning from the experience of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to sign rapid customs clearance agreements for agricultural products with Africa, reducing institutional costs.

3. Analysis of the Current Situation and Characteristics of African Agricultural Products Exporting to China

In recent years, with the deepening of China-Africa cooperation, the export of African agricultural products to China has shown a unique development trend, demonstrating distinct characteristics in terms of trade scale, product structure, and trade channels.

3.1 Sustained Growth in Trade Scale and Huge Potential

China has maintained its position as Africa's largest trading partner for many consecutive years and is also the second-largest export destination for African agricultural products. Since the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit, the General Administration of Customs has actively promoted the expansion of quarantine access for African agricultural and food products. Thirty-one types of agricultural and food products from 19 African countries, including Tanzanian chili peppers and Zambian macadamia nuts, have obtained access to the Chinese market. According to customs statistics, the amount of agricultural and food products imported from Africa has achieved eight consecutive years of positive growth. In the first five months of 2025 alone, China's imports of agricultural and food products from Africa reached 15.83 billion yuan, among which imports of coffee, cocoa beans, and frozen strawberries increased by 145.7%, 88.6%, and 82% respectively. At the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit, China decided to grant zero-tariff treatment to 100% of tariff items for all least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, including 33 African countries. This measure is expected to further unleash the potential of African agricultural products exporting to China and promote the continuous expansion of trade scale. After obtaining access to the Chinese market, Malagasy mutton entered the Chinese market for the first time this year, with a good market response and a growing import volume, which fully demonstrates the broad prospects of African agricultural products in the Chinese market.

3.2 Relatively Concentrated Product Structure but Gradually Enriched Categories

For a long time, the categories of agricultural products imported by China from Africa have been relatively concentrated. Taking oilseeds and fruits (HS12) as an example, sesame, as the largest agricultural product imported by China from Africa, occupies an important position. About 60% of the sesame consumed by Chinese consumers comes from Africa. Products of tobacco and tobacco substitutes (HS24), coffee, tea, mate and flavouring spices (HS08), etc., are also major import categories. However, in recent years, the categories of African agricultural products exported to China have been gradually enriched. A variety of characteristic agricultural products such as Malagasy mutton, Zimbabwean fresh avocados, Zambian soybeans, Mozambican pigeon peas and macadamia nuts have successively obtained access to the Chinese market. In 2025, during the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, the General Administration of Customs signed five protocols on the access of agricultural and food products to China with the counterpart departments of four countries, including Ethiopia, Congo, Gambia and Malawi, opening the door for more African characteristic agricultural products to enter China. This not only enriches the choices of Chinese consumers but also broadens the export scope of African agricultural products.

3.3 Increasingly Diverse Trade Channels

In terms of traditional trade channels, large-scale exhibitions such as the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and the China International Import Expo provide important display platforms for African agricultural products. At the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, the on-site sales of permanent pavilions exceeded 2 million yuan, and 37 order projects such as purple tea, seafood, and mutton were signed, with an intended cooperation amount of 43.9 billion yuan. Emerging channels such as cross-border e-commerce are also booming, providing a new path for African agricultural products to enter the Chinese market. In May 2020, the Rwandan Ambassador to China endorsed his hometown specialties through live broadcasting, and 3,000 bags of Rwandan coffee were sold out in an instant. Nowadays, a large number of high-quality African characteristic agricultural products enter thousands of Chinese households through cross-border e-commerce platforms. Activities such as the African Goodies Online Shopping Festival further promote the sales of African agricultural products through e-commerce channels, expanding the sales scope and improving the sales efficiency.

4. Analysis of Barriers to African Agricultural Products Exporting to China

4.1 Supply Side: Weak Agricultural Production and Processing Capabilities, and Unstable Supply

4.1.1 Backward Agricultural Production Technology and Low Land Utilisation Rate

African agricultural production has long relied on traditional models, with seriously insufficient technological input. Zhang (2013) pointed out that Africa has 717 million hectares of arable land, but the actual cultivated area only accounts for 29.55%, and the utilisation rate of arable land in countries such as Zambia is less than 14%, with prominent land idleness. Through data analysis, Yang et al. (2019) found that the unit yield of grains in Africa is only 300-500 kg/ha, less than one fifth of that in the United States, and the low agricultural production efficiency leads to limited supply capacity of bulk agricultural products. Xie (2024) mentioned that there are only 8,476 agricultural science and technology practitioners in Africa, with less than 400 scientific research institutions, and 40% of the institutions have fewer than five researchers, so the weak scientific and technological innovation capability restricts the improvement of output.

4.1.2 Low Processing Conversion Rate of Agricultural Products, Mainly Exporting Primary Raw Materials

African agricultural product processing capabilities are weak, and most countries still export low-value-added raw materials. As the largest cashew producer in Africa, Côte d'Ivoire has a domestic processing conversion rate of less than 10%, mainly exporting unpeeled cashews; in the export structure of African agricultural products, primary products such as textile raw materials (such as cotton) and oilseeds (such as sesame) account for more than 60%, lacking deep processing and value-added links, which makes it difficult to meet the demand for processed products in the Chinese market.

4.2 Circulation Side: High Trade Barriers and Logistics Costs Hinder Market Access

4.2.1 Tariff and Non-tariff Barriers Restrict Import Scale

China's tariff policy on African agricultural products still has barriers. Although China has implemented zero tariffs on 98% of tariff items for 33 least-developed African countries, it still implements the most-favoured-nation (MFN) tariff rate for the rest of African countries. For example, the MFN tariff rate for fresh or dried shelled cashews is 10%, and that for unshelled cashews reaches 20%, which is higher than that of ASEAN countries (0%). African agricultural products need to go through strict quarantine access procedures to enter China. For example, risk analysis is required for the first import of plant-derived foods, involving 425 products, and only 39 products from more than 30 African countries have obtained access, with a long access cycle and complex procedures.

4.2.2 Poor Logistics Channels and High Transportation Costs

The logistics infrastructure between China and Africa is weak, and the transportation cost is significantly higher than that of other regions. It is estimated that the transportation cost of African agricultural products accounts for 11.5% of the total import volume, while that of Asia and North America is 7.2% and 6.7% respectively, and the transportation cost of landlocked countries such as Malawi is even as high as 55%. There are few and low-frequency shipping routes between China and Africa, and the cold chain preservation facilities are insufficient, resulting in a loss rate of fresh agricultural products exceeding 30%. For example, Kenyan flowers are transported to China by air, and the logistics cost accounts for more than 40% of the selling price, which weakens the price competitiveness.

4.3 Demand Side: Insufficient Market Cognition and Brand Building, Limited Consumer Acceptance

4.3.1 Low Awareness of African Agricultural Products among Chinese Consumers

African agricultural products have weak brand influence and low consumer awareness in the Chinese market. The marketing of African agricultural products in China is mainly dominated by government-led exhibitions (the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo), but lacks brand promotion for ordinary consumers, resulting in low penetration of high-quality products such as Kenyan coffee and Ethiopian flowers in the retail market. Although the order of African products reached 43.9 billion yuan at the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, most consumers still perceive African agricultural products as "primary raw materials" and have insufficient awareness of deep-processed products.

4.3.2 Single Branding and Marketing Channels

African agricultural products lack systematic brand building and rely on traditional trade channels. African countries have not yet formed geographical indication brands similar to "Colombian coffee" and "Thai jasmine rice", and their products have weak premium capabilities. The export of African agricultural products to China still mainly relies on bulk trade, and the proportion of emerging channels such as cross-border e-commerce is less than 10%, while the penetration rate of ASEAN agricultural products through e-commerce platforms has reached 30%. In contrast, the ability of African products to reach the retail end is obviously insufficient.

5. Prospect of African Agricultural Products Exporting to China: Policy Empowerment and Technological Collaboration Drive Trade Upgrading

5.1 Deepening of Policy Mechanisms and Expansion of Trade Facilitation, Releasing Institutional Dividends

Policy coordination under the FOCAC framework will become the core driving force for trade growth. Yuan (2022) pointed out in “Review and Outlook on China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation under the Framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum” that China has clarified the expansion of imports of non-resource products from Africa through the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035, and will further implement the "green channel" policy in the future to accelerate quarantine access procedures. For example, in the "Agricultural Development and Livelihood Improvement Partnership Action" proposed at the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit, China promised to build 100,000 mu of agricultural standardisation demonstration zones and dispatch 500 agricultural experts. Such measures will directly improve the quality standards of African agricultural products and shorten the access cycle. Tang & Xiao (2022), in “The current situation and prospects of African agricultural products exported to China under the new development pattern of ‘dual circulation’”, suggest that China can sign free trade agreements on agricultural products with key African countries by referring to the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area model, expand the zero-tariff items from 98% to all agricultural products, and it is expected that Africa's agricultural exports to China will exceed $20 billion by 2030.

Sun et al. (2007) mentioned in “Structure and characteristics of China-Africa agricultural trade” that China-Africa agricultural trade has significant complementarity. Africa's tropical cash crops (like cocoa and coffee) form a trade complementarity with China's horticultural products, and policy dividends will further strengthen this trend. For example, China's zero-tariff policy for the least-developed countries in Africa has covered 4,762 commodities. In the future, if the scope of tariff items is further expanded, it will promote the annual growth of exports of advantageous agricultural products such as Benin cotton and Ethiopian sesame to China by more than 15%.

5.2 Technological Cooperation and Whole Industrial Chain Upgrading, Breaking through Supply-side and Circulation-side Bottlenecks

In-depth technological cooperation and integration of the whole industrial chain will become the key path to break through trade barriers. The technologies such as hybrid rice and high-efficiency peanut cultivation promoted by China in Africa have doubled local yields. For example, the yield of hybrid rice in Madagascar is 2-3 times that of local varieties, and such technologies can be extended to economic crops such as sesame and cotton. China has built 24 agricultural technology demonstration centres in Africa. In the future, relying on the "China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance", technologies such as rice close planting and integrated pest management can be combined with local resources in Africa, and at the same time, the construction of agricultural product processing parks can be promoted, increasing the deep processing ratio of African cashews, cocoa, and other products from less than 10% to more than 30%.

Through the bibliometric analysis in Research Status and Trends of China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation Based on CiteSpace, it is found that capacity building and industrial chain collaboration are the hotspots of future research. It is expected that China will train 5,000 technical personnel for Africa every year through the "Agricultural Vocational Education and Training Project" to fundamentally improve agricultural production efficiency. The "order agriculture" model promoted by Chinese enterprises in Africa (the cassava planting project in Uganda) has achieved a 40% increase in farmers' income. In the future, it can be further combined with cross-border e-commerce channels (the African Goodies Online Shopping Festival) to create a full chain of "planting-processing-selling".

6. Conclusion

Under the G20 framework, China-Africa agricultural product trade cooperation ushers in important development opportunities. As the first African country to hold the G20 presidency, South Africa provides a new opportunity for China-Africa agricultural cooperation. By implementing zero-tariff policies and accelerating quarantine access procedures, China continues to expand imports of African agricultural products and promotes the continuous growth of trade scale. At the same time, China-Africa agricultural technical cooperation has been continuously deepened. China has promoted advanced technologies such as hybrid rice and water-saving irrigation in Africa, helping Africa improve agricultural productivity and product quality and optimise the structure of agricultural products.

However, the export of African agricultural products to China still faces many challenges, such as weak agricultural production and processing capabilities, high trade barriers and logistics costs, and insufficient market awareness and brand building. In the future, China and Africa should continue to strengthen policy coordination and mechanism innovation, further improve the "green channel" policy, and promote trade facilitation. At the same time, taking technological cooperation as the core, it is necessary to promote the upgrading of the whole industrial chain and enhance the added value and market competitiveness of African agricultural products. Driven by the dual wheels of policy empowerment and technological collaboration, China-Africa agricultural product trade is expected to achieve a transformation from "scale expansion" to "quality upgrading", injecting new impetus into the deepening of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Africa, and providing useful reference for global agricultural cooperation and food security.

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This report has been published by the Inclusive Society Institute

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