Afreximbank is entering the second half of 2026 from a stronger financial position after its lending activities helped push half-year net income to $534.7 million, a 30% increase from the $412.7 million recorded during the same period last year.

The African Export-Import Bank disclosed the figures on Monday in its financial results for the six months ended June 30, showing that the bank’s balance sheet continued to expand as demand for trade and development financing increased across Africa and the Caribbean.

The clearest sign of that expansion came from its lending portfolio. Net loans and advances climbed 5.7% to $35.4 billion, compared with $33.5 billion at the end of 2025, helping drive higher interest earnings. Net interest income rose by 22% to $1 billion, while fees and commissions increased by 15% to $71.1 million, supported by guarantees, letters of credit and advisory services.

“As a result, net income reached US$534.7 million, representing a 30% increase from US$412.7 million recorded in the first half of 2025,” the statement reads in part.

The stronger earnings also improved the bank’s profitability, with return on average shareholders’ equity rising to 13% from 11% a year earlier, while return on average assets increased to 2.54% from 2.22%. At the same time, the bank kept its non-performing loan ratio at 2.20%, an improvement from 2.43% at the end of 2025.

The growth was not limited to loans. Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies increased 7.8% to $52.3 billion, up from $48.5 billion at the end of December 2025, while shareholders’ funds rose to $8.5 billion.

“Our financial performance and strong position reflect the continued resilience of the Group at a time when our member countries are navigating a particularly complex global environment. Our healthy balance sheet gives us the capacity to respond when markets are disrupted, while continuing to finance the trade, industrialisation and investment that underpin longer-term economic resilience,” Denys said.

Afreximbank also strengthened its access to funding after the reporting period with a $1.5 billion dual-tranche bond, comprising $750 million in a 5.5-year tranche and another $750 million in a 10-year tranche. The transaction was reportedly about twice oversubscribed and represented the bank’s largest international debt capital markets issuance.

Despite higher personnel costs and inflationary pressures, the group’s cost-to-income ratio remained relatively contained at 20%, compared with 19% in the first half of 2025.

The latest figures build on Afreximbank’s strong performance in 2025, when it posted a full-year profit of $1.15 billion. With intra-African trade also rising to $213.8 billion last year, the bank is positioning its expanding balance sheet to play a bigger role in financing trade, industrialisation and investment across the continent.

For Afreximbank, the numbers tell a broader story: more lending is translating into stronger earnings, while the bank continues to increase its capacity to finance Africa’s growing trade and investment needs.