In the section | Review, Discussion, Criticism |
Title of the article | Competition of Global Manufacturers in the African Road Vehicles Market |
Pages | 165-183 |
Author | Andrey Konstantinovich Barinov Candidate of Sciences (Economics), Researcher Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences 30/1 Spiridonovka St., Moscow, 123001, Russian Federation This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ORCID: 0000-0002-7847-4172 |
Abstract | The rapid social, economic, and demographic development of African countries in the early 21st century significantly enhances the position of the macro-region in international trade. Furthermore, in the post-colonial period, the transport infrastructure of the continent has been transforming. The development of road infrastructure systems is most notably evident. These processes are leading to an expansion of land vehicle imports to African countries (60 billion USD in 2023). The competition among world powers in the African continent’s rising market is intensifying. Based on international statistics (including African data), this article evaluates the level of development of the continental road infrastructure and defines the volume and structure of road vehicle imports. The scientific research presents key suppliers and consumers of the relevant goods. In conclusion, the study identifies the potential of the African macro-region for vehicles and parts (thereof) produced by Russian transport engineering enterprises. The Author concludes that manufacturers from Russia can develop export to large markets (Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco) and to countries that have a significant shortage of land vehicles and which need to develop imports of relevant goods (Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Benin, Cameroon, Mali, Tanzania). It is emphasized that suppliers need to take into account differences between countries of the African continent in cultural and consumer specifics, as well as accurately assess the economic situation, market competitiveness and associated risks. Differences in these criteria between regions and countries of the African continent are extremely significant |
Code | 339+338 |
JEL | L16, O18, O55 |
DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.14530/se.2025.3.165-183 |
Keywords | trade, transport infrastructure, vehicles, international competition, Russian-African relations, Africa |
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For citation | Barinov A.K. Competition of Global Manufacturers in the African Road Vehicles Market. Prostranstvennaya Ekonomika = Spatial Economics, 2025, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 165-183. https://dx.doi.org/10.14530/se.2025.3.165-183 (In Russian) |
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Financing | |
Submitted | 15.04.2025 |
Approved after reviewing | 15.05.2025 |
Accepted for publication | 29.08.2025 |
Available online | 30.09.2025 |