By a Correspondent
Bilateral trade between China and Zimbabwe reached 5.01 billion U.S. dollars in the first nine months of 2026, representing a 51.6 percent increase year on year, the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe said Wednesday, citing Chinese customs data.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco exports to China amounted to 860 million dollars during the period, up 9.3 percent from the same period last year, the embassy said in a post on social media platform X.
The embassy also highlighted the expansion of Zimbabwe’s agricultural exports to the Chinese market, noting that Zimbabwean blueberries entered China for the first time in July. The development is expected to provide Zimbabwean producers with an additional market for their produce and broaden the range of agricultural goods traded between the two countries.
The growth in bilateral trade reflects expanding commercial ties between China and Zimbabwe, with minerals and agricultural products forming key components of Zimbabwe’s exports, while Chinese machinery, electrical equipment and manufactured goods feature prominently among its imports, according to ZimTrade, Zimbabwe’s trade promotion and development organization.
China extended zero-tariff treatment to imports from all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, effective May 1, 2026. The policy is aimed at facilitating African exports to the Chinese market and strengthening trade links between China and African economies.
For Zimbabwe, improved access to the Chinese market could create additional opportunities for agricultural producers and exporters seeking to diversify their overseas markets. Tobacco remains a major agricultural export, while the entry of blueberries into China marks a further step in expanding the country’s horticultural export reach.
The increase in bilateral trade comes amid broader efforts by China and African countries to deepen economic cooperation, expand market access and promote trade in goods.
China is an important trading partner for Zimbabwe, with economic ties spanning mining, agriculture, manufacturing and equipment supply. The latest trade figures point to continued growth in commercial exchanges between the two countries.
