China emerged as Africa’s largest investing economy among the continent’s biggest new foreign-backed developments, anchoring its position through $4.7 billion in major energy and industrial projects, according to annual data released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
China Secures Top Investor Spot With Multi-Billion Oil and Metals Projects
Chinese capital concentrated heavily in large-scale resource extraction and infrastructure developments across the continent. According to the UNCTAD annual report, China’s dominance among top-tier projects was driven by three major investments. Golden Concord Holdings, a Hong Kong-based industrial group, initiated a $2.5 billion oil and gas project in Ethiopia, representing the largest Chinese-backed development of the period. This was followed by Fujian Xiang Xin Group’s $1.1 billion oil and gas project in Zambia and CMOC Group’s $1.1 billion metals investment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as outlined in the report.
Global Powers Compete for Critical Minerals and Energy Infrastructure
The CMOC investment in the DRC strengthens China’s presence in a vital source of copper and cobalt, which are essential for electric vehicles, battery manufacturing, and advanced technologies.
Did you know? Despite a nearly one-third decline in the total value of announced greenfield investments across Africa in 2025, the total number of projects actually increased as investors pivoted from mega-projects toward a broader mix of new developments, according to UNCTAD data.
Gulf States and European Investors Maintain Strong Footprint
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country was the largest investor in Africa’s top new projects?
China was the largest investing economy represented among Africa’s biggest new foreign-backed developments, anchored by $4.7 billion across three major projects in Ethiopia, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to UNCTAD.
What sectors attracted the highest level of investment?
What was the single largest announced project in Africa?
Explore our latest Africa economic trends analysis or check out global supply chain updates to stay informed on resource market shifts.