Chinese Belt and Road Investment in Africa Jumps 254% in H1 2026: Report
Chinese investment in Africa under the Belt and Road Initiative surged 254% to $33. 5 billion in the first half of 2026 Africa attracted 67. 24% of China’s global BRI investment and $46. 99 billion in total engagements, including construction contracts Ethiopia and Egypt led the continent with $18. 9 billion and $9. 7 billion. . .
Chinese investment in Africa under the Belt and Road Initiative surged 254% to $33. 5 billion in the first half of 2026Africa attracted 67. 24% of China’s global BRI investment and $46. 99 billion in total engagements, including construction contractsEthiopia and Egypt led the continent with $18. 9 billion and $9. 7 billion in Chinese engagements, respectivelyChinese investment in Africa under the Belt and Road Initiative reached $33. 5 billion in the first half of 2026, up 254% from the same period in 2025. The figures were published on Sunday, July 26, in a report by the Asia Pacific Centre for Industry Transitions, a think tank affiliated with Australia’s University of Queensland, and the Green Finance & Development Center, which is affiliated with China’s Fudan University. The report, titled “China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Investment Report 2026 H1,” said Africa accounted for 67. 24% of China’s worldwide BRI investment during the first six months of the year. The initiative seeks to strengthen trade and infrastructure links between China and countries across Asia, Africa and Europe. Africa posted the world’s second-fastest growth in Chinese BRI investment, behind East Asia. Investment in East Asia remained modest despite surging 437%, to $182 million from $34 million in the first half of 2025. Every other region recorded a sharp decline over the period. The report suggested that mounting U. S. and European tariffs on Chinese-made goods may be encouraging Chinese companies to invest in African production. Several African countries face lower trade barriers in Western markets, while expanding investment ties and new trade agreements could give Chinese companies alternative routes to those markets. Ethiopia and Egypt Lead the WayBeyond direct investment, Chinese companies signed $13. 49 billion worth of construction contracts in Africa during the first half of 2026. Such projects have traditionally been financed largely through loans from Chinese state-owned banks. The contracts accounted for 17. 64% of the value of all overseas construction deals secured by Chinese companies during the period. Their value was down 60. 8% from the first half of 2025, reflecting a sharp contraction in Chinese sovereign lending to Africa in recent years as several countries on the continent have struggled with mounting debt. Despite the decline, Africa remained the largest regional recipient of combined Chinese BRI investment and construction activity between January 1 and June 30, 2026, attracting $46. 99 billion. Ethiopia and Egypt were among the four largest destinations for Chinese BRI activity worldwide. Ethiopia attracted $18. 9 billion, while Egypt received $9. 7 billion. The report counted 186 BRI projects across 67 of the 150 countries that have joined the initiative since Beijing launched it in 2013. Their combined value reached nearly $126. 4 billion in the first half of 2026. That brought China’s cumulative BRI investment and construction activity to $1. 539 trillion. The initiative helps China secure access to raw materials while extending its commercial and geopolitical influence through infrastructure such as ports, railways, airports, industrial parks and power plants. Globally, energy attracted the largest share of Chinese BRI activity in the first half of 2026, accounting for 28. 7% of the total. Metals and mining followed with 17. 2%, transportation with 14. 4% and technology with 13. 4%. Walid Kéfi