However, the acceleration of trade remains strongly polarized. A triumvirate of major economies, comprising South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Côte d'Ivoire, captures 30.81% of the value of goods traded on the continent, highlighting the industrial asymmetry that characterizes the integration of local markets.

South Africa's supremacy is evident through its trade surplus with the rest of the continent. The southern economic hub accounts for 19.2% of regional trade, with a surplus of over $21 billion, with $31.1 billion in exports compared to $10.04 billion in imports, focused on manufactured goods from Eswatini or Zambia. The DRC ranks second on the continent, accounting for 6.74% of intra-African trade, driven by its domestic market of 100 million people. In West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire establishes itself as the third pillar, with a share of 4.83%, a result based on the local transformation of cocoa and its strong integration into the UEMOA circuits.

The concentration of flows is verified through the weight of the top 10 contributors (including Uganda at 4.48%, Morocco at 4.46%, and Egypt at 4.35%), which account for 59.75% of regional transactions, contrasting with the sluggishness of markets like Libya or Eritrea. On a global scale, Africa's combined trade with the rest of the world totals $1,500 billion, driven by the increase in precious metals and agricultural materials. While global exports reach $685.2 billion, the volume of imports stands at $781.5 billion, widening Africa's trade deficit to $96.3 billion, compared to $91.9 billion the previous year.


Nlend Flore

Tags: commerce intra-africain afrique du sud rdc cote d'ivoire economie africaine integration regionale marches locaux balance commerciale exportations importations