Because the former non-trade trade mainly by sea or manpower from abroad to the local, the time cost and logistics cost is very high category also limited, resulting in most African countries on light industry, textiles, clothing, hardware, watches, home appliances and other products demand soared. With the growth of mobile users, business-to-business online trading momentum can not be suppressed.
Characteristics and development trends of African markets
1, large population, market, material shortage
African population is as high as 1.2 billion, and the consumer market is huge, but materially poor. Large to steel aluminum, machinery and equipment, food, electric vehicles, small to Shenzhen made of mobile phones, the obligation to make handicrafts, and then to daily necessities such as baby diapers, daily necessities, especially plastic products, gifts, decorations, lighting, etc. are in great demand products.
The focus here is on three products that are in short supply in Africa:
① wigs, Hair care products: in Africa, hair matters are called top priority. African women's true hair is only about one or two centimeters long, but also a small furry hair, the appearance of different styles are almost all wigs. They do this in order to avoid summer worms in the hair of the wanton growth, but also more comfortable than the matted curly hair cool, economic conditions allowed Africans will go to a professional barber shop. Most hair care products are imported from the United States/China, and most of the African wigs are made in China.
② cloth, accessories, clothing: Cotton is an important economic cash crop in Africa, planting area is very wide, but the industrial chain is not perfect is a mishap. They lack the ability to process, or can only rely on imported fabric, fabric, or even finished garments.
③ Packaging materials: Especially mineral water label and beverage bottle label. Since the climate and water resources are scarce, mineral water and beverages are popular, so labels such as shrink film PVC shrink label are often returned in a quarterly/half-year order.
2, Chinese industry has the advantage
China and India are also fiercely competitive with Africa's exports of goods and technology. We have an advantage in scientific research, mining, manufacturing and construction, and they have the same advantages in agriculture, textiles and food.
3, the first stage of electric business platform
Although the material scarcity, logistics is underdeveloped, but African electric business platform has been exposed sharp corners. Like Nigeria's biggest konga, the Chinese founder of Kilimall, or South African so-called Amazon rival Takealo, online shoppers are more sensitive to price. Among them, founded in Chinese domestic business-to-business platform--afrindex, is focused on the African electric Business Platform for foreign trade in a rising star.
4, the lighting industry has a considerable potential for development
Along the way, under the policy, China-Africa cooperation projects have started, but also led to building hardware lighting and other decorative materials needs. In particular, lighting, the majority of African countries in the light industry lag, the market is quite large gaps, lighting industry has considerable potential for development.
5, the African local agent role is big
To get through the African market, in addition to exhibiting, a better way is through the local middleman/agent assistance. More customers choose the local agent form is because, agent/middleman in the local warehouse, customs clearance ability is strong, save a lot of unnecessary trouble. Receipts can also be in cash form, cod, which many Chinese suppliers are unable to meet.
Characteristics of African clients
1, a lot of Africans in miniature leisurely and leisurely.
Especially in engineering equipment, mechanical aspects of a single very long, must be calm, to cooperate and communicate a variety of details.
2, African customers warm humor, especially black humor You can keep daily interactions with them and send messages to customers daily greetings: How are you?/wish for you have a lovely day. Or send some Chinese anecdotes, food and other words, to share with them.
3, African customers written English is generally good
But as in Togo, Morocco, where many of the countries under French colonial rule, French is the main language of local commerce. Encounter a large number of black customers they will be with your spoken speed to adjust, pronunciation is also clearer, but also encountered some strong accent and heavy, because impatient, also speak quickly, sometimes kind of like rap rap illusion. If you can learn some native languages, it's a good way to get closer to your customers, like Swahili.
4, very like the brother
If you are a man, you and the male client said Heybro favor, the mantra can also be himyfriend. If it is to encounter a more business-like mail serious say things to customers, it is not recommended to do so. Or with routine follow-up occasionally send a gentle reminder, friendly reminder, warm reminder things to remind them to update progress.
5, the African region, especially Nigeria, often power outages, most of them are more inclined to call
When you meet an African customer who likes to call, be sure to keep a record and confirm the important details again in writing.
6, the price is very sensitive
With their purchasing power limited relationship, the pursuit of cost-effective things, even at the expense of quality, the pursuit of low prices. Don't be too descriptive about how good quality is because they focus more on the price. In the bargaining link, and they explain that the labor is very expensive, work is very complex, high cost, process time-consuming, and so on the impact of price factors. Many procurement novice will often goods than many, and then compare the Heart ghost, so will tangle. Usually meet such customers, need to keep up with their concerns, multiple video, photos, or other customer installation, purchase, show dynamics, model layout, factory lines, etc. to give them more reliance on your basis.
7. Africans have a lot to say about human morality. The deep reason is because of their perennial racial discrimination relationship. Do not like the European and American people, will prefer the yellow skin, especially for the Chinese people still have a good opinion. Make sure they think you're not just doing his business, but really helping him.
8. Their economy is a little tight. Often prepared for a long time to get money out of business. So make sure they believe you, or they'll be surprised. Can be from the next single professional follow-up, to the process of real-time reporting to do the goods, do inspection reports, etc., to make them feel that you work very professional.
Yellow Pages recommended for developing African customers African people are very ink, so the development letter may be really lazy to return. So to open the African market, in addition to on-site visits, exhibitors, can also direct phone development, or directly add Whats app quotes, direct promotion. They have words to talk, go straight, so don't mealy with them. http://m.booyun.com/customs-data includes African countries, customs, business-to-business and other information portal network.
http://ww1.woyaaonline.com/ Africa
Payment negotiations for trade in Africa
1, many African countries limit foreign exchange outflow, customers apply for loans, banks have been particularly slow to reply. Sometimes the pi or the goods have been done, still have to wait a long time to expect the deposit or to settle the payment. TT payment must adhere to the paragraph to do the goods, the principle of clear delivery.
Do not open any precedent.
2, to China's African customers like cash transactions, must be a note-checking machine over.
3, related to payment terms, must not compromise. Many of them ask O/A to pay on credit unless they have had a lot of dealings with you, and they have visited in the field, otherwise the payment method is not risky.
4, the letter of credit must investigate the issuing bank's credit, you can ask them to open through the international bank, reduce the risk of payment.
