China-Africa trade up 39%

Trade between China and African nations jumped 39% to US$32.1 billion in the first 10 months of last year, official Chinese customs figures have revealed. The increase was attributed to China’s oil imports, mostly from Sudan. Africa was also buying Chinese goods, the figures showed. The US Energy Information Administration said China accounted for 40% of total growth in global oil demand over the past four years. Yu Yingfu, an official from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, said China-Africa trade had increased since the start of a new era of cooperation that began with 2000’s China-Africa Forum.