India courts Africa amid US headwinds
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India courts Africa amid US headwinds
The US tariff war with India could reshape India’s strategic expansion plan into Africa
India’s strategic plan to grow its footprint across Africa has been given a nudge by the Trump administration’s new tariff regime of 50% duties on Indian exports.
These harsh measures by the US have been attributed partly due to India’s reliance in discounted Russian oil.
This has prompted Indian refiners to temporarily pause Russian purchases and diversify towards African and Latin American oil suppliers.
In February this year, even before President Donald Trump’s so called “Liberation Day” announcement of new tariffs in March, India’s crude oil imports from African nations jumped to 330,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 143,000 bpd in January 2025, an indication of renewed efforts to diversify supply chains in anticipation of impeding tariffs by the White House.
Diversifying supply chains
Currently Nigeria and Angola are the leading African oil exporters to India. In 2022 there were reports that India secured long-term crude oil contracts from Namibia to diversify its energy supply sources. India already has a significant footprint in Namibia.
According to Trade Map data, trade between the two countries reached USD362.32- million in 2024, focused on copper, iron and steel, and petroleum products.
But, apart from pivoting away from Russian oil, the new geopolitical tensions have reignited India’s renewable energy and Electric Vehicle (EV) ambitions, and with that the need to secure critical mineral supply chains.
Critical minerals supply chains
Africa hosts more than 30% of the world’s known critical mineral reserves and India’s has shown increased interest in exploration projects in Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Republic of Congo, Namibia and Ghana. India already has a significant presence and good relations with South Africa.
Earlier this year the Indian government sent a group of geologists to Zambia, specifically to explore the vast copper and cobalt deposits.
Zambia granted India access to 9,000 square km for exploration, with a three-year project timeline. Most of the analysis will be conducted in India, but field teams will regularly travel to Zambia to collect samples.
Africa’s lithium and WhyAfrica’s coverage
African lithium, notably from Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Ghana, Rare Earth Elements, and platinum‑group metals from South Africa are especially vital. For example, South Africa commands over 90% of global platinum reserves, critical for hydrogen fuel cells and catalytic technologies that India is pursuing.
Image: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Read more about geopolitics and the renewed interest in Africa’s critical minerals on the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop-shop for on the ground information and business intelligence about Africa.
India courts Africa amid US headwinds
