By Onu Okorie
The 2026 African Trade Report released by the African Export-Import Bank Afreximbank has disclosed that the Intra-African trade recorded strong growth in 2025, rising by 5.5 per cent to approximately $213.8 billion, underscoring the continent’s increasing economic resilience and the benefits of deeper regional integration.
The report, themed “Leveraging Geopolitics for Trade and Industrialisation in Global Africa,” was launched at a time of major shifts in global trade, supply chains, technology and investment patterns, which Afreximbank said present Africa with a historic opportunity to reposition itself as a hub for production, trade, innovation and sustainable growth.
According to the report, Africa’s economic performance strengthened considerably in 2025, with real Gross Domestic Product GDP growth accelerating from 3.4 per cent in 2024 to 4.5 per cent, surpassing the global growth rate. Merchandise trade also expanded by 6.1 per cent to about $1.5 trillion, while inflation eased significantly from 21.6 per cent to 13.1 per cent, with some countries recording inflation rates as low as three per cent.
Afreximbank attributed the positive performance to improving macroeconomic management, stronger institutions, growing regional cooperation, increased cross-border investment flows and the determination of African countries to sustain growth despite global economic uncertainties.
The report noted that the global trade environment remained challenging, shaped by geopolitical tensions, geoeconomic fragmentation and structural shifts that increased uncertainty and risks across international markets. These developments affected supply chains, trade costs and market stability, while technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence, continued to transform trade logistics, customs administration and global value chains.
Despite the progress, the bank identified persistent structural challenges, including limited access to trade finance, infrastructure deficits and low levels of value addition across key sectors. However, it stressed that these constraints also highlight the scale of opportunities available to the continent as multinational firms seek more resilient and diversified production locations.
The report stated that Africa is increasingly well-positioned to attract investment in manufacturing, digital innovation and green industrialisation as global supply chains evolve.
Afreximbank urged African countries to move swiftly to transform global fragmentation into a catalyst for resilient and inclusive growth. It recommended strengthening African development finance institutions through increased capitalisation and fairer global regulatory frameworks, accelerating implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA, expanding digital payment infrastructure and advocating reforms of the international financial system.
The report further called for faster implementation of AfCFTA tariff schedules and rules of origin, enhanced national coordination, and wider adoption of digital payment platforms to reduce currency and logistics bottlenecks.
According to Afreximbank, Africa’s ability to benefit from shifting global trade patterns will depend on stronger industrial ecosystems, increased intra-African trade, and sustained financial support mechanisms.
The bank emphasised that accelerating intra-African trade finance, improving transport and logistics infrastructure, and deepening the use of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System PAPSS would be critical to driving a resilient, inclusive and sustainable industrialisation pathway for the continent.
“The imperative now is to act with ambition and urgency,” the report stated, stressing that adaptive policies, strategic trade positioning and robust foreign direct investment interventions will be essential to securing Africa’s long-term economic transformation.