Intra-African Trade Hits $213.8 Billion as AfCFTA Drives Regional Economic Growth
Africa’s push for deeper economic integration is yielding positive results as intra-African trade climbed by 5.5 percent in 2025, reaching an estimated $213.8 billion compared to $202.7 billion recorded in 2024. According to the latest African Trade Report released by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the increase reflects growing economic activity and stronger commercial ties among African nations, signaling steady progress under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The report revealed that countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zambia played significant roles in driving the continent’s trade expansion. The additional $11.1 billion in trade value highlights the increasing willingness of African economies to trade with one another, a trend experts believe is critical to reducing dependence on external markets and strengthening regional value chains.
South Africa maintained its position as Africa’s leading contributor to intra-African trade, accounting for 19.2 percent of total trade flows across the continent in 2025. While this represented a slight decline from 20.8 percent recorded the previous year, the country remained a dominant trading force, importing goods worth $10.04 billion from African nations and exporting $31.1 billion to regional markets. Key imports included crude oil, coal, petroleum products, electricity, sugar, and textiles sourced from countries such as Zambia, Mozambique, and Eswatini.
Meanwhile, Côte d’Ivoire continued to strengthen its reputation as one of West Africa’s most important trade hubs, contributing 4.83 percent of total intra-African trade. The country’s strategic position within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has helped boost trade with neighboring countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Increasing investments in domestic processing and agro-industrial development are also enhancing its competitiveness within regional markets.
Despite the encouraging growth, Afreximbank warned that Africa still faces an estimated $100 billion annual trade finance gap, a challenge that could slow the full realization of AfCFTA’s potential. However, the bank noted that the launch of the Dangote Refinery is already creating new opportunities for refined petroleum exports, a development expected to reshape regional energy trade and further accelerate economic integration across the continent in the years ahead.
source: The Guardian