According to statistics, trade between Africa and China fell by 14% in the first quarter of 2020. This is mainly because of the COVID 19 outbreak that began in China in December 2019. As a result of this outbreak, most of China was under lockdown.
Within the first quarter of 2020, reports show that China’s revenue fell by about 2% and experts predict that by the end of 2020, China would have negative economic growth of about -2% or -4%.
With companies, factories in China forced to shut down in the first quarter, production output within the nation reduced significantly. Only factories with medical-related equipment and protective gear were allowed to function.
For weeks, containers carrying goods were not allowed to leave the ports in China. Export from China to Africa reduced by 10.5%, while exports from Africa to China contracted by 17.5%.
By the time China came out of lockdown by the end of the first quarter, March, the COVID 19 virus had already spread far into Africa and many African nations have been under lockdown while others have been under strict curfews.
Many African borders have been shut down, allowing in only essential items to cross the borders. Many African countries may begin to ease the lockdown by the second month in the second quarter of 2020.
Nigeria is a good example, the nation has been under lockdown for 6 weeks straight and only cargos that old Medical supplies and protective gear have been allowed at the nation’s ports.
Nigeria’s Nationwide lockdown will end by the 4th of May and will be followed by a Nationwide curfew, still, cargos entering the country will be strictly monitored and for the moment only essential will be allowed.
Economic experts predict that the trade between China and Africa would likely shrink further depending on the wave of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Africa has confirmed a total of 27,385 cases of the virus continent-wide and has recorded a total death toll of 1297.
