By Jayden Bagshaw
The newly released African Trade Report 2025, published yesterday by Afreximbank, has delivered a sobering assessment of Africa’s export trajectory in the face of global economic fractures. The report, unveiled on October 5, highlights the cumulative impact of external shocks since 2020, from pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions to the inflationary aftershocks of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Africa’s total trade declined by 6.3 percent in 2023, falling to US$1.4 trillion after a brief rebound in 2022. Commodities such as oil, gold, and copper continue to dominate export earnings, leaving the continent vulnerable to price volatility and demand cycles from advanced markets. Manufactured goods, particularly pharmaceuticals and automotive inputs, remain largely imported, underscoring the structural imbalance in Africa’s trade profile.
The report stressed that intra-African trade now accounts for just under 15 percent of total trade volume. While still low compared to Asia and Europe, this figure represents a slow but steady improvement, driven by greater policy coordination and the early effects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Experts argue that deeper integration, improved logistics, and industrial capacity building are essential if Africa is to reduce its dependency on extra-continental markets.
Tags: exports, trade, AfCFTA, integration, economy
Title: AfCFTA Implementation Gains Momentum as Export Cor