The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Africa Trading and Distribution Company (ATDC) have signed a $500 million Global Credit Facility to support the movement and distribution of commodities and products across African and global markets.

ATDC is a pan-African platform established to expand intra-African trade, accelerate industrialisation through local value addition and strengthen economic integration across the continent.

With initial operations in Egypt, Nigeria, Malawi and Zimbabwe, the platform is focused on closing trade and market-intelligence gaps, improving market access and supporting implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Under the facility, Afreximbank will provide ATDC with trade-finance capacity to scale eligible trading and distribution transactions across African markets.

The financing will support the purchase and aggregation of African goods, logistics, transportation, warehousing and distribution, providing funding across different stages of the trade cycle.

ATDC said it would deploy the facility towards eligible trade, logistics and distribution transactions, with repayments anchored on proceeds from the sale of goods financed under the arrangement.

Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, Kanayo Awani, said the facility would strengthen the trade, logistics and distribution architecture required to unlock the potential of AfCFTA.

She said the financing would facilitate the distribution of Made-in-Africa goods, deepen regional value chains, expand market access for producers and support manufactured exports.

Chief Executive Officer of ATDC, Stewart Makura, said the facility would strengthen the company’s capacity to aggregate supply, mobilise working capital and move goods more efficiently across value chains.

According to him, the partnership would support stronger supply chains, value addition, import substitution and intra-African trade.

Beyond individual transactions, the facility is expected to help ATDC develop repeatable trade corridors and expand access to sourcing and distribution networks across African markets.

It is also expected to support greater processing of African commodities and increase regional availability of raw materials, inputs and value-added products.