How Africa can break through in the Chinese market

Amid pivotal G20 conversations on global trade, one opportunity stands out for African businesses: China. With imports from China far exceeding African exports, the challenge—and immense potential—lies in achieving scale and sustainability. For African SMEs, the key to unlocking this potential is strategic market access, a mission at the heart of Standard Bank's "China Unlocked" initiative.

John Perlman chats to Sithembile Dlamini, the Head of Africa China Banking at Standard Bank, about African SMEs and accessing China in terms of scale and sustainability.

Recently, the landscape became even more promising. China's announcement of zero-tariff access for almost all African countries provides a crucial runway for businesses to diversify markets, mitigate risk, and build vital buyer relationships. The move also reinforces the importance and timing of platforms such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE), where Standard Bank has been a committed participant since 2018.

"These expos are high-impact," explains Sithembile Dlamini, Head of Africa China Banking at Standard Bank, who recently returned from a two-week trade mission. "It gives our clients the opportunity to showcase diverse African products—from cosmetics and teas to wine—and results in strong interest, deal closures, and distribution partnerships." She cites the example of a company like Commune Tea, which has successfully leveraged these platforms to gain a foothold.

This year, the bank expanded its footprint by participating in Food and Hospitality China for the first time, a platform tailored to finished agro-processing goods, alongside its ongoing involvement in ProWine Shanghai. The latter is a critical initiative for a product like South African wine, which, while beloved locally, remains relatively unknown in China. "A show like ProWine gives us the opportunity to educate the market and elevate South African wines," Dlamini notes.

Success, however, is not a solo endeavour. It hinges on strategic collaboration. Standard Bank's work is deeply intertwined with partners like Wines of South Africa (WoSA) and Wesgro. While the bank provides the crucial financial architecture—market access, payment facilitation, and financing—partners contribute irreplaceable sector expertise. For instance, recent masterclasses at ProWine, hosted in Mandarin by a renowned Chinese wine master, delved into the technical and historical nuances of South African viticulture, a promotional effort expertly led by WoSA.

Looking ahead to 2026, the momentum is building. "We've established ourselves well in the Africa-China corridor," says Dlamini. A landmark event is already on the calendar: Standard Bank will host the China-Africa Economic Trade Expo in South Africa for the first time. Furthermore, the strategy is evolving into a two-way street.

Beyond facilitating entry into China, the bank is actively creating pathways for South African businesses to access other high-growth African markets, such as Ghana and Kenya, therebyfostering intra-African trade.

The message is clear: the door to China is open wider than ever. For African entrepreneurs, the combination of favourable policy, dedicated platforms, and expert partnership provides a powerful key. The mission now is to turn access into sustainable, scaled success.

China Unlocked is brought to you by Standard Bank Business and Commercial Unlocked China for your business, find partners, cut costs and grow. China is a major food importer, which means South Africa can position itself as a reliable supplier while developing regional agroprocessing value chains.