The International Institute for Strategic Studies published on 21 July 2023 an analysis titled "China a Growing Port of Call for African Naval Expansion" by Johannes R. Fischbach.
The total number of active Sub-Saharan Africa surface combatants has almost tripled since 2008. The region now counts 420 such vessels, up from 158 in 2008. Most of the recently arrived vessels are patrol and coastal combatants.
China has seen its market share of vessels supplied to the region rise from 9 percent in 2008 to 16 percent in 2023, making it the second largest supplier after Singapore.
