Competitiveness and Evolution of China–Africa Trade Network: Evidence from Value-Added Extend Decomposition.

This article analyzes the evolution and structure of China–Africa trade from a value-added perspective between 1990 and 2021, employing the Wang-Wei-Zhu (WWZ) decomposition and trade network analysis to better capture the complexity of intermediate and final product exports. It finds that the China–Africa value-added trade network has expanded and exhibits small-world and core–periphery characteristics, with China emerging as the dominant core, surpassing South Africa. The trade relationship is marked by imbalances: African countries mainly export intermediate goods, especially raw materials like oil and minerals, to China, while China exports a larger volume of manufactured final products to Africa. Revealed comparative advantage (RCA) analysis based on value-added trade shows Africa's strengths lie primarily in primary sectors and services, whereas China holds stronger competitiveness in low-tech manufacturing and moderate strength in mid- and high-tech manufacturing. The study suggests that Africa could enhance its trade competitiveness by diversifying exports beyond raw materials, developing agriculture, services, and low-tech manufacturing sectors, and leveraging cooperation with China to foster industrial upgrading.