Africa Topples Asia, Europe, Us As Africa's Preferred Trade Market

November 18, 2024--African businesses increasingly prefer to trade across the continent's borders over out-of-the-continent markets like Asia, the US, and Europe, due to a rising quality of made-in-Africa goods, lower market prices, and accessibility.

The latest Standard Bank Africa Trade Barometer, which tracks 10 African countries among the 54 signatory nations of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) shows 37% of the businesses prefer partners based in African markets compared to Asia(24%), Europe(16%) and North America(3%).

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Economic Growth is Speeding Up in Africa, but Uncertainty Clouds Outlook

April 23, 2025—Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is showing some resilience despite uncertainty in the global economy and restricted fiscal space. Regional growth is expected to reach 3.5% in 2025 and further accelerate to 4.3% in 2026-2027. This growth is mainly due to increased private consumption and investments as inflation cools down and currencies stabilize.

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Africa's Opportunity in a Fragmenting Global Economy

April 9, 2025--The global trade landscape is shifting dramatically. With the U.S. imposing new tariffs on key imports with countries already planning retaliation, the world is edging deeper into a long-term trade war. This is not just a bilateral dispute. It signals the acceleration of a broader move away from open globalisation toward protectionism and economic nationalism.

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