Shandong's exports to Africa surged 21 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, driven by strong demand for construction machinery, new energy products, and home appliances. This growth came after China expanded zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties starting May 1, a policy that has significantly boosted trade between the two sides.

Construction machinery is leading the charge. Shantui Construction Machinery Co Ltd, a Shandong-based manufacturer, shipped over 4,000 units to Africa in H1 2026 alone, with the continent now ranking as its largest single export market. Africa's booming mining sector – with new iron ore, bauxite, lithium, and gold projects currently underway – has driven strong demand for bulldozers, excavators, and loaders. Shandong's exports of construction machinery to Africa grew 41 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year, with excavators and bulldozers accounting for over 60 percent of the total.

Shandong's "new trio" of green exports – electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products – also performed strongly in H1, with exports to Africa soaring 79 percent year-on-year. Electric vehicle exports rose 97.7 percent, lithium battery exports increased 67.7 percent, and photovoltaic products climbed 40.9 percent compared to the same period last year.

Shandong Sacred Sun Power, a new energy exporter in Qufu, saw lithium battery shipments rise 35 percent year-on-year as off-grid power demand in Africa continued to grow. The company's performance in African and other overseas markets reflects Shandong's recent efforts to foster advanced growth drivers and transform its industrial and foreign trade structures.

Meanwhile, the added value of the province's high-tech manufacturing sector grew 11.7 percent in H1, driving industrial upgrades and fueling export growth across multiple product categories.