# EU trade trends with China and Africa

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/eu-trade-trends-with-china-and-africa
> Updated: 2026-10-22T07:20:55.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

In the first half of 2026, European Union imports of new vehicles from China rose by 52.8%, reaching 708,908 units. The statistical value of these imports increased by 70.5% to 10.54 billion euros, a surge attributed to a shift toward more expensive electrified and hybrid models.

Additionally, EU imports of timber from Central and West Africa, including major suppliers such as Gabon, Cameroon, and the Republic of the Congo, increased by 3.7% during the first eight months of 2026. This follows a three-year decline in regional imports between 2022 and 2025 and occurs prior to the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation on December 30, 2026.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-22: European Union solar panel imports reach 8 billion euros

EU solar panel imports totaled 8 billion euros in 2025, with China supplying 98.6 percent of non-EU imports. Wind turbine imports rose significantly, while biofuel imports declined.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-union-solar-panel-imports-reach-8-billion-euros

### 2026-10-20: EU imports of Chinese cars and African timber rise

EU timber imports from Central and West Africa rose 3.7% in early 2026, while Chinese vehicle imports jumped 52.8% in the first half of the year.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/eu-imports-of-chinese-cars-and-african-timber-rise

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Cite as: EU trade trends with China and Africa. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/eu-trade-trends-with-china-and-africa