Engineering News quotes a South African analyst who states that all of the African economies will grow this year with the exception of South Africa due to China's demand for their raw materials.



Martyn Davies, executive director of Stellenbosch University's Center for Chinese Studies, told a conference that out of 53 African states only the continent's biggest economy, South Africa, is not expected to grow this year.



Davies stated at the conference about China, which was organized by the International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD): "Chinese demand is underpinning African growth."



Davies noted that Africa is already exporting one-million barrels per day of oil to China, covering 25% of China's foreign energy supplies.



Davies attributes these links to strong support by African leaders for Chinese investment in extractive industries, which comes in contrast to objections raised to Chinese investment in sensitive sectors of developed countries.



Chinese imports from Africa are subject to an average tariff of 0.64% - nearing the duty-free level sought by developing countries in rich markets – due to China's efforts to facilitate imports of African energy and commodities.



According to Global Trade Alert’s website, China is now the most targeted country for trade measures such as anti-dumping duties and safeguards, a trend which is likely to gather momentum as the global economy recovers.