The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), one of the continent’s leading multilateral financial institutions, recorded a profit of N1.5 trillion in 2025, reflecting its growing influence in financing trade and economic development across Africa. The bank was established in 1993 to promote intra-African trade, support exports, and reduce the continent’s dependence on external financing institutions.
The 2025 result represents an increase from the N1.3 trillion profit reported in 2024, showing continued momentum despite inflationary pressures, currency volatility, and tighter global financial conditions. Over the past few years, Afreximbank has expanded rapidly as many African governments and businesses increasingly turn to regional lenders for capital.
A major driver of the performance was the expansion of the bank’s lending capacity. Loans and advances rose significantly, indicating stronger financing support for infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, and trade-related projects. This is particularly important as African countries seek to deepen economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to create the world’s largest free trade zone by number of member states.
Afreximbank has also played a strategic role in recent years by funding vaccine procurement during the pandemic, supporting commodity-backed financing, and helping countries manage foreign exchange shortages. Its growing balance sheet and profitability suggest it is becoming a more important alternative to traditional global lenders such as the IMF, World Bank, and private international banks.
The latest figures therefore represent more than just profit growth; they signal the strengthening of an African-owned financial institution positioned to shape the continent’s long-term economic future.
