African Trade Continues to Grow
The trade between African countries continues to progress. Intra-African trade reached $213.8 billion in 2025, recording a 5.47% increase compared to the previous year, according to the African Trade Report 2026: Leveraging Geopolitics for Trade and Industrialisation in Global Africa published by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). This growth is driven by the progressive implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the improvement of transportation infrastructure, and the strengthening of national trade policies.
Dominance of a Limited Number of Economies
However, this growth masks a reality: trade remains largely dominated by a limited number of African economies. In 2025, ten countries accounted for nearly 60% of intra-African trade, with a cumulative share of 59.75%.
Top Trading Countries
- South Africa: Maintains its position as the leading actor in intra-African trade, representing 19.2% of goods trade between African countries. Its exports to African markets reached $31.1 billion, while its imports from the continent totaled $10.04 billion.
- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Ranks second with 6.74% of intra-African trade. The growing weight of Kinshasa is explained by the size of its domestic market, a population of over 100 million inhabitants, and a strategic position in central Africa. South Africa remains its main African trading partner.
- Côte d'Ivoire: Completes the top three with a contribution of 4.83% to intra-African trade. The country confirms its role as a commercial platform in West Africa thanks to its integration into regional networks and the development of local processing of raw materials, particularly in cocoa and cashews.
Other Key Players
The following countries also play a significant role in intra-African trade:
- Uganda (4.48%)
- Morocco (4.46%)
- Egypt (4.35%)
- Zambia (4.33%)
- Nigeria (4.22%)
- Zimbabwe (3.64%)
- Namibia (3.46%)
Total African Trade
The total merchandise trade of the continent, including trade with the rest of the world, reached approximately $1.5 trillion in 2025, up 6.1% from the previous year. African exports of goods increased by 6.2% to $685.2 billion, while imports grew by 6% to $781.5 billion. However, this evolution has led to a widening of the continent's trade deficit, from $91.9 billion in 2024 to $96.3 billion in 2025.
Context and Challenges
According to Afreximbank, the growth of African trade takes place in an international context marked by geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, and trade uncertainties. The rise in agricultural product prices and the increase in mineral and precious metal prices have also contributed to supporting the overall value of African trade.
