China ranked as Zimbabwe’s third-largest export destination in the first eleven months of 2025, accounting for 16.9 percent of the country’s total export earnings, according to figures released by Zimbabwe’s national trade promotion agency, ZimTrade. The trade data suggests increasing commercial engagement between the two countries, particularly in the area of agricultural exports.
Zimbabwe’s cumulative export earnings between January and November 2025 totalled 8.57 billion US dollars, representing a 27 percent increase compared to 6.74 billion dollars during the same period in 2024. The United Arab Emirates and South Africa maintained their positions as the top two export destinations, respectively, during this timeframe.
ZimTrade attributed part of the increase in export volume to recent trade agreements signed between Zimbabwe and China. These include bilateral protocols facilitating the export of horticultural products such as citrus fruit, avocados and blueberries. The agreements outline phytosanitary standards and export conditions enabling Zimbabwean produce to enter the Chinese market through formal channels.
In an October 2025 communication, ZimTrade Chief Executive Allan Majuru highlighted the role of these agreements in supporting export growth and in addressing informal trade flows. According to Majuru, the intention is to improve market access while enhancing returns to local producers through structured trade channels.
The expansion of Zimbabwe’s agricultural exports to China takes place within a broader context of trade diversification. As global economic patterns shift and new markets emerge, a number of African economies are seeking to reduce dependence on a narrow range of trading partners. Bilateral arrangements such as those between Zimbabwe and China represent one pathway among several being explored by governments and exporters on the continent.
The developments also reflect an evolving approach to international trade in the region. While intra-African trade initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) continue to expand, parallel relationships with non-African partners remain a key feature of national trade strategies. Zimbabwe’s engagement with China is part of this wider landscape, shaped by access needs, production capabilities and institutional arrangements.
ZimTrade’s reporting does not elaborate on the exact composition or volume of agricultural exports to China within the 16.9 percent share. However, earlier official communications have indicated that citrus and avocados are among the products included in recent export consignments. Both crops have seen increased investment at the national level, with support from public and private actors aimed at enhancing export readiness and compliance with international standards.
Although China’s role in African trade has attracted varied analysis across academic and policy domains, the available data from Zimbabwe in 2025 points primarily to a measurable increase in export flows. This includes growth in both absolute and relative terms. The extent to which this trend continues may depend on a combination of production capacity, trade policy, and market conditions in the receiving country.
Zimbabwe’s export strategy has placed emphasis on improving agricultural value chains and identifying markets with potential for sustained demand. While China is one such market, it is one among several in a dynamic global trade environment. As trade data continues to emerge, further analysis may be required to assess the long-term implications of these bilateral arrangements, both economically and in terms of trade equity.
The increase in exports to China adds a further layer to Zimbabwe’s evolving trade map. Whether this shift represents a longer-term realignment or a temporary outcome linked to specific commodities remains to be seen. Further monitoring and comparative data will be necessary to establish the sustainability and distributional effects of the current trajectory.
