In 2024, intra-African trade experienced a significant resurgence, growing by 12.4% year-on-year to reach $220.3 billion, according to the latest African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) report. This marked a decisive recovery from the 5.9% contraction recorded in 2023, reflecting Africa’s growing emphasis on regional economic integration amidst a turbulent global trading environment.
South Africa emerged as the pre-eminent driver of intra-African trade, recording $42.1 billion in trade within the continent. This figure accounts for nearly one-fifth of the total and underscores the country’s longstanding position as a regional trade hub. Despite a marginal decline from the previous year, South Africa’s centrality within trade networks, particularly through regional mechanisms such as the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), remains unchallenged.
Nigeria and Morocco followed as key players, contributing significantly to intra-continental trade flows. Nigeria, West Africa’s economic anchor, recorded substantial export and import activity within the region, bolstered by its manufacturing and energy sectors. Meanwhile, Morocco’s strategic geographic positioning and diversified industrial base enabled it to strengthen trade ties, particularly across the Maghreb and beyond.
West Africa demonstrated notable dynamism, driven in part by the strong performances of Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Mali. Côte d’Ivoire, in particular, accounted for 4.8% of all intra-African trade. Its performance was underpinned by increased exports of refined petroleum products and value-added manufactured goods, which signify a gradual shift from primary commodities to industrial trade outputs.
East Africa maintained its status as the third-largest regional contributor to intra-African trade, reflecting ongoing improvements in infrastructure and cross-border logistics. Countries in the region have increasingly integrated supply chains, supported by investments in transport corridors and port infrastructure. Although North and Central Africa played relatively smaller roles, their participation remains vital to the broader aims of trade inclusivity and regional cohesion.
The continent’s overall trade performance aligns with the strategic ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers, harmonise trade regulations, and stimulate economic growth through a unified continental market. The upward trajectory of intra-African trade in 2024 not only reflects improved economic resilience but also reveals a growing interdependence among African nations in pursuit of sustainable development.
As global uncertainties persist, Africa’s collective drive to deepen regional trade integration through instruments like the AfCFTA continues to reshape the continent’s economic architecture, laying the groundwork for a more interconnected and prosperous future.
