In 2024, intra‑African trade reached $220.3 billion, up 12.4 % year‑on‑year as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gains traction, according to the African Trade Report 2025 published by Afreximbank. South Africa remains a key driver of this growth, leveraging its robust industrial base and integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Southern African Customs Union. Under AfCFTA preferential rules, South African exports totaled about R820 million (~$52 million) from January 2024 to March 2025, illustrating early commercial gains from tariff liberalisation. This trend reflects broader shifts toward regional value chains and increased trade in manufactured goods across Africa.
