Trade between Africa and China exceeded US$75 billion in 2007; having grown by 43 per cent annually on a compound basis for the last 5 years. Soaring trade between Africa and China is a contributing factor in the continent’s fastest economic growth rate in years, with GDP growth for 2007 averaging an impressive 6.1 per cent according to Christensen.
“With the falling freight rates and yield on the traditional Asia-Europe and Transpacific routes, many of our members are now shifting their focus on higher yielding markets particularly Africa,” he said.
China has made significant investments in infrastructure projects and the manufacturing sector in Africa and the growth in that trade has been dramatic during the last two years. Similarly Chinese investments have also been substantial in Central Asia where the new oil and gas industry has led to rapid growth in the regional economies and a corresponding increase in trade with China.
The China Logistics Club is a forum specifically for the SME freight forwarders and logistics companies, who are often overlooked, unable to afford the very expensive and often exclusive networks.