The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has launched the 2026 edition of its widely acclaimed African Trade Report, themed “Leveraging Geopolitics for Trade and Industrialisation in Global Africa.”
According to a release shared with the Ghana News Agency, the report was published at a pivotal moment for Africa and the global economy, amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, evolving supply chains, rapid technological transformation, and changing patterns of trade and investment that are reshaping the global economic landscape.
The report notes that, for Africa, these developments present not only challenges but also a historic opportunity to reposition the continent as a dynamic hub for production, trade, innovation, and economic growth.
Its findings highlight the growing resilience and potential of African economies. Africa’s real GDP growth accelerated from 3.4 per cent in 2024 to 4.5 per cent in 2025, outpacing global growth and reaffirming the continent’s strength and adaptability.
Aggregate inflation also moderated significantly, declining from 21.6 per cent to 13.1 per cent, with some countries recording inflation rates as low as three per cent. Merchandise trade expanded by 6.1 per cent to approximately US$1.5 trillion, while intra-African trade grew by 5.5 per cent to about US$213.8 billion.
According to the report, these outcomes reflect improved macroeconomic management, stronger institutions, expanding regional cooperation, increased cross-border investment, and the determination of African countries to sustain growth despite a challenging global environment.
The report states that the global trade environment was shaped by a complex interplay of geopolitical tensions, geoeconomic fragmentation, and structural shifts, all of which contributed to a more uncertain and risk-laden trade landscape.
“These developments affected global trade flows through their impacts on supply chains, trade costs and market stability,” it noted.
At the same time, technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), emerged as major drivers of change, transforming trade logistics, customs administration, and the organisation of global value chains.
The report acknowledges that significant structural challenges remain. Africa continues to face trade finance constraints, infrastructure deficits, and limited value addition across many sectors. However, it emphasises that these challenges also underscore the vast opportunities available to the continent.
As global supply chains diversify and the search for resilient production hubs intensifies, Africa is increasingly well-positioned to emerge as a competitive destination for investment, manufacturing, digital innovation, and green industrialisation.
The central message of the report is that Africa must act with urgency to transform global fragmentation into a catalyst for resilient, inclusive growth and value-added exports.
It recommends strengthening African development finance institutions through increased capitalisation and fairer global regulatory frameworks; accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), particularly regarding tariff schedules, rules of origin, and national coordination mechanisms; expanding digital payment infrastructure to reduce currency and logistics bottlenecks; and advocating reforms to the global financial system, including international rulemaking and debt restructuring frameworks.
The report further notes that as geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global supply chains and trade patterns, Africa’s ability to capitalise on these shifts will depend on strengthening industrial ecosystems, expanding intra-African trade, and sustaining coordinated financial support.
Ultimately, it states that a combination of adaptive policy frameworks, strategic trade positioning, and robust foreign direct investment interventions will be critical to driving a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable industrialisation pathway for Global Africa.
The report stresses that the imperative now is to act with ambition and urgency.
It adds that this will require accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA, expanding intra-African trade finance, strengthening transport and logistics infrastructure, and deepening digital payment systems through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
