China, Zimbabwe trade surges 51.6 pct in first three quarters of 2026

HARARE, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Bilateral trade between China and Zimbabwe surged to 5.01 billion U.S. dollars in the first three quarters of 2026, marking a 51.6 percent year-on-year increase, the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe said on Wednesday, citing Chinese customs data.

A Chinese exhibitor shows household appliances to visitors at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on April 26, 2024. (File photo: Xinhua)

"Zimbabwe's tobacco exports to China reached 860 million U.S. dollars, up 9.3 percent," the embassy said in a post on the social media platform X.

Zimbabwean blueberries entered the Chinese market for the first time in July, the embassy said, highlighting the surge in China-Zimbabwe trade as a story of win-win partnership.

China extended zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties from May 1 this year.

Zimbabwe mainly exports minerals, tobacco and other agricultural products to China and imports Chinese machinery, electrical equipment and manufactured goods, according to ZimTrade, Zimbabwe's trade promotion and development organization.