South Africa remained Africa’s largest intra-African trader in 2025, accounting for 19.2% of merchandise traded within the continent, according to Afreximbank’s African Trade Report 2026. The Democratic Republic of the Congo ranked second with a 6.74% share, followed by Côte d’Ivoire at 4.83%, reflecting its growing role as a West African manufacturing and trade hub. Uganda, Morocco, Egypt, Zambia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Namibia completed the top 10, which collectively represented nearly 60% of intra-African trade. The report found that trade within Africa rose 5.47% year over year to $213.8 billion, driven by the continued implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stronger trade policies, and improved transport infrastructure. Overall, African merchandise trade reached approximately $1.5 trillion in 2025 despite global geopolitical tensions.
Ecofin Agency