Afreximbank and the Africa Trading and Distribution Company (ATDC) signed a $500 million Global Credit Facility aimed at strengthening commodity trade across the African continent and extending reach to markets beyond the region.
Facility details and objectives
The new facility is designed to finance the purchase, aggregation and movement of African goods while also supporting logistics, transportation, warehousing and distribution activities that are essential for smooth trade flows.
Vincent Musumba, communications manager at Afreximbank, announced the agreement in a statement released on Monday, highlighting the partnership as a milestone for regional commerce.
According to the statement, the credit line provides ATDC with additional trade-finance capacity, enabling the company to execute and scale eligible transactions throughout the continent.
Financing under the arrangement will cover the cost of buying and bundling commodities, as well as related logistics, transport, storage and distribution expenses at each stage of the trade process.
The bank indicated that the agreement also seeks to help the company build lasting trade corridors and broaden access to reliable sourcing and distribution networks for businesses operating in Africa.
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Financial Highlights and Trade Support
During the period, the Group’s assets and contingencies rose 7.8% to $52.3 billion, up from $48.5 billion at end-2025. Net loans and advances increased 5.7% to $35.4 billion, showing continued growth in trade financing across Africa. The bank said higher net interest income and stronger fee and commission earnings drove the performance.
The facility will support sustainable trade flows and greater processing of African commodities. It aims to increase regional availability of raw materials, inputs and value-added products while boosting manufactured exports. Executives said the partnership will strengthen supply chains, promote value addition, encourage import substitution and improve the competitiveness of African products in global markets.
Bank and company perspectives
Kanayo Awani, executive vice president for intra-African trade at Afreximbank, said the facility reflects the bank’s commitment to creating infrastructure that supports the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
She added that the funding will aid the efficient distribution of African-produced goods, deepen regional value chains and open more market opportunities for manufacturers across the continent.
Stewart Makura, chief executive of ATDC, emphasized that efficient trade systems linking producers, manufacturers, processors and consumers are essential for Africa’s economic transformation.
He noted that the facility will strengthen the company’s ability to aggregate supply, mobilise working capital and move goods more smoothly across regional value chains.
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ATDC operates in Egypt, Nigeria, Malawi and Zimbabwe, focusing on market access, trade-intelligence gaps and support for AfCFTA implementation.
Trade trends and bank performance
Intra-African trade rose 5.47% to $213.8 billion in 2025, up from $202.7 billion in 2024, according to the bank’s latest trade report.
The increase was linked to stronger economic activity in Ethiopia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
South Africa remained the largest contributor to intra-African trade, while Côte d’Ivoire continued to facilitate West African commerce.
Afreximbank reported a 30% rise in net income to $534.7 million in the first half of 2026, up from $412 million.