In supermarket aisles and urban markets alike, products from Asia occupy a dominant position. Electronic equipment, textiles, construction materials, motorcycles, spare parts, and intermediate goods fuel a large share of local consumption and production. This presence is explained by competitive costs, well-established supply chains, and an industrial capacity that few African countries can match.

Data from the International Trade Centre and the World Bank show that in sub-Saharan Africa, China has been the leading bilateral trading partner for over a decade. For many countries in the region, it accounts for more than 20% of total imports. In Senegal, Asia is among the main sources of supply, particularly for manufactured goods and certain industrial inputs.

In the short term, this openness supports purchasing power and facilitates access to moderately priced equipment. Local businesses benefit from less expensive machinery, materials, and components, which can lower barriers to entry in certain sectors. Rapidly growing urban consumption relies heavily on this abundant supply.

But this configuration also reveals a structural weakness. An economy that imports massive quantities of processed goods while primarily exporting raw materials remains exposed to a persistent trade imbalance. When commodity prices fluctuate or logistical flows contract, this dependence becomes more apparent.

The global health crisis has highlighted this fragility. Disruptions to supply chains and increased transport costs have led to delays and price hikes for many imported products. More recently, geopolitical uncertainties in the Red Sea and Asia have served as a reminder that long-distance trade routes can directly impact African domestic markets.

The issue goes beyond mere trade. Highly competitive foreign companies can hinder the development of a local industrial base, especially when internal energy, logistics, and financial costs remain high. Domestic companies then struggle to compete in standard manufacturing segments, which limits the creation of domestic added value.

However, discussing dependence does not mean advocating isolationism. Asian imports are part of a global trading system of which Africa is a part. The central issue concerns the ability to diversify production and gradually integrate more local processing. This requires coherent industrial policies, improved productivity, and a stable investment environment.

The massive presence of Asian products is neither inevitable nor an anomaly. It reflects the current state of competitive relations. Reducing strategic risk will not be achieved through border closures, but through moving upmarket, gradual industrialization, and more balanced integration into regional and global value chains.