A cargo vessel is seen at the container terminal in Lianyungang Port, Jiangsu Province, July 12, 2024. (CFP)

In the first seven months of this year, Jiangsu's foreign trade with Africa surpassed 110 billion yuan, up 27.5% year-on-year, according to Nanjing Customs. This data shows exports grew by 19% , while imports saw a 59% increase.

Among the enterprises, Sany Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. is accelerating the research and development of products designed for different markets. The SY365 excavator, for instance, is tailored for the African market to achieve high efficiency and strong maneuverability, according to the company’s export department head Kai Feng.

Nantong Fuji Elevator Co., Ltd. delivered three passenger elevators valued at 261,500 yuan to South Sudan on August 18. “Our elevators sell well in Africa, with exports in the first seven months increasing by 49.2% compared to the same period last year,” said the company’s manager Yang Gang.

Furthermore, Jiangsu has reported increasing imports of agricultural products from Africa. Notably, Rugao Customs has overseen the import of over 60,000 tonnes of African soybeans this year, an increase of 51.73% compared to last year.