Intra-African Trade Set to Hit $250bn in 2026 as AfCFTA Pushes Economic Integration Across the Continent

Intra-African trade is on track for a major milestone in 2026, with projections indicating it could rise to $250 billion, representing a 14% increase from last year’s $220 billion. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) says the growth signals stronger regional cooperation and expanding economic ties across the continent.

The Secretary-General of AfCFTA, Wamkele Mene, disclosed this during the Invest Lagos 3.0 Conference in Lagos, where he highlighted the steady implementation of the trade agreement. According to him, 50 African countries are already actively executing the pact, with all key protocols finalized to support smoother cross-border trade and investment flows.

However, Mene warned that African economies must urgently strengthen internal trade as global uncertainties continue to reshape international markets. He noted that many countries are losing ground in traditional export destinations due to rising trade barriers, stressing that Africa’s long-term growth depends more on building a strong internal market than relying on external partners.

He also pointed to major structural challenges slowing trade across the continent, including high trade finance costs, weak transport infrastructure, logistics delays, and strict border restrictions. Using the Lagos–Abidjan corridor as an example, he revealed that goods covering about 1,080 kilometres can take up to 17 days to arrive due to checkpoints and border inefficiencies.

Beyond trade barriers, Mene emphasized the importance of digital transformation and freer movement of people across African borders. He praised countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, and others for introducing visa-on-arrival and visa-free policies, while highlighting Africa’s growing digital economy—projected to hit $712 billion by 2035—as a key driver of future growth. He also underscored the role of PAPSS in reducing dependence on the US dollar for cross-border transactions and called for increased investment in manufacturing, digital infrastructure, and industrial expansion across Africa.

source: The Guardian