China’s investments in Africa, and trade with the continent, are growing at a breakneck pace. Between 1990 and 2006, its foreign direct investment (FDI) stock grew from less than $50 million to $2.6 billion, according to official data. Overall
trade between China and African countries grew five-fold between 2000 and 2006, and passed $100 billion in 2008. This reflects a ten-fold increase in bilateral trade in less than a decade. Sino-African trade is dominated by Chinese demand for natural resources. Four commodities – oil, iron ore, wood and diamonds – account for 80 percent of Africa’s exports to China.