According to Afreximbank's 2025 African Trade Report, published last June, intra-African trade will reach $220.3 billion in 2024, an increase of 12.4% compared to the previous year. While raw materials still dominate, new sectors, such as machinery, vehicles, food products, and electronics, are increasingly present in trade.

Despite this positive momentum, Africa still accounts for only 3.3% of global exports. This striking figure highlights the need for the continent to increase its internal trade if it wants to further integrate into global value chains. Afreximbank's initiative comes at a crucial time to address this gap.

The new trading company is a direct response to the obstacles hindering intra-African trade, particularly the lack of access to finance. With a capital of $1 billion, its mission is to finance trade operations, facilitate logistics, and provide guarantees for transactions.

This initiative is part of Afreximbank's overall effort to support continental trade. In 2024, the institution has already disbursed more than $17.5 billion in financing and plans to increase this amount to $40 billion by 2026. The success of these efforts is exemplified by the IATF in Algiers, which brings together more than 2,000 exhibitors and is expected to generate more than $44 billion in trade and investment agreements.

Afreximbank's new trading company complements the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Together, these initiatives aim to create a single market and reduce trade barriers. The objective is to transform intra-African trade into a fundamental driver of growth, investment, and job creation. The success of this project could serve as a model for other initiatives aimed at strengthening economic integration and improving Africa's position in the global economy.

CK