Intra-African trade increased by 5.47 per cent to an estimated $213.8 billion in 2025, up from $202.7 billion in 2024, the latest African Trade Report released by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) said.

The report attributed the $11.1 billion increase in trade value to stronger economic activities and expanding commercial exchanges across several African economies, particularly Ethiopia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia.

According to Afreximbank, the growth underscores the continent’s gradual progress towards deeper economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.

South Africa remained the continent’s largest contributor to intra-African trade in 2025, accounting for 19.2 per cent of total trade flows within Africa, although it represented a slight decline from 20.8 per cent recorded in 2024.

The report showed that South Africa imported goods valued at $10.04 billion from African countries during the year, while its exports to African markets stood at $31.1 billion, unchanged from the previous year.

South Africa’s imports from the continent were dominated by mineral products, precious metals, textiles and food products, including crude oil, coal, petroleum products, electricity, sugar and confectionery sourced from countries such as Eswatini, Zambia and Mozambique.

The report highlighted Côte d’Ivoire’s continued importance as a regional trade hub, accounting for 4.83 per cent of total intra-African trade in 2025.

It noted that the country’s strong trade performance was supported by its membership in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Its major regional trade partners include Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria, positioning the country as a critical gateway for commerce across West Africa.

According to the report, the ongoing shift towards domestic processing is strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s emergence as an agro-industrial base and enhancing its competitiveness within regional markets.

Despite recent gains, Afreximbank warned that Africa continues to face an estimated $100 billion annual trade finance gap, a major constraint to unlocking the full benefits of the AfCFTA.

The report observed growing momentum in exports of refined petroleum products following the operational commencement of the Dangote Refinery, a development expected to reshape regional energy trade dynamics in the coming years.