CAIRO, June 25 – African Export-Import Bank has reported that intra-African trade rose by 5.47% in 2025 to reach an estimated $213.8 billion, up from $202.7 billion in 2024, reflecting stronger regional trade flows across the continent.
According to the bank’s latest trade report, the increase of $11.1 billion was supported by robust economic growth in several African economies, including Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia.
South Africa remained Africa’s largest contributor to intra-continental trade, accounting for 19.2% of total intra-African trade in 2025, although this represented a slight decline from 20.8% recorded a year earlier.
The report showed that South Africa imported goods worth approximately $10.04 billion from other African countries during the year, while its exports to the continent remained broadly unchanged at $31.1 billion.
South Africa’s imports were largely concentrated in mineral products, precious metals, textiles and food products, including crude oil, coal, refined petroleum products, electricity, sugar and confectionery sourced from countries such as Eswatini, Zambia and Mozambique.
Its exports to African markets were considerably more diversified, comprising fuel products, machinery, electrical equipment and motor vehicles.
The report also highlighted the growing importance of Côte d’Ivoire, which accounted for 4.83% of total intra-African trade and continued to serve as a major commercial hub in West Africa.
Afreximbank attributed Côte d’Ivoire’s regional strength to its integration within both the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the Economic Community of West African States.
The country remains one of Africa’s leading exporters of cocoa, cashew nuts, rubber and palm oil, while increasingly investing in domestic processing to move higher up the agricultural value chain.
Its principal regional trading partners include Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria, while both South Africa and Morocco continue to serve as important gateways to Southern and North African markets.
The report noted that the gradual shift toward domestic value addition, particularly in the cocoa and cashew industries, is strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s position as an emerging agro-industrial hub in West Africa.
Afreximbank said the latest figures underscore the continued importance of regional integration, industrialisation and expanding cross-border commerce as key drivers of Africa’s long-term economic growth.
