China Fuels Zambia’s Growth: Fertiliser, Food Security, and Industrial Power

Zambia’s commissioning of a China-backed fertiliser manufacturing complex marks a decisive shift from import dependence toward industrial self-reliance. China Fuels Zambia’s Growth unpacks how large-scale fertiliser production is becoming a strategic lever for food security, regional trade influence, and long-term industrial transformation in Southern Africa.

This Africa Watch report examines the economics behind Zambia’s fertiliser expansion, the role of Chinese engineering and capital, and Lusaka’s broader strategy to align agriculture with industrial modernization. Beyond boosting domestic supply, the analysis highlights how Zambia is positioning itself as a regional fertiliser hub—reducing exposure to volatile global markets while strengthening supply chains across Southern Africa.

The report also situates this development within China’s evolving Africa strategy, where industrial diplomacy increasingly replaces resource extraction as the core engagement model. For Western donors and global investors, Zambia’s fertiliser push offers a case study in how integrated infrastructure–energy–manufacturing projects are reshaping Africa’s development pathways.

For policymakers, agribusiness leaders, investors, and strategic planners, this report delivers early insight into one of Africa’s most consequential industrial shifts.