China's BRI investment in Africa hits record $33.5 billion

Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investment announcements in Africa surged 254 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, reaching a record $33.5 billion. Africa accounted for approximately 67 percent of all global Chinese BRI investment announcements during this period.

Investment is heavily concentrated in Ethiopia and Egypt, which together represent more than 80 percent of the continental total. Ethiopia attracted $14.8 billion, while Egypt secured $12.2 billion.

The nature of these investments is shifting from traditional sovereign loans for infrastructure toward capital in energy, manufacturing, and processing. Notable projects include Ming Yang Smart Energy Group’s $14.17 billion renewable energy and green ammonia program in Ethiopia, and XinFeng Steel’s $10 billion integrated metals complex in Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone.