Mapping the Trade Within Africa – Towards the AfCFTA

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Why We L👀ked Into This »🎨 Trade agreements within Africa have experienced challenges, the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) was launched on January 1, 2021 to help resolve these issues. What countries trade with each other the most?

 

Intra-Africa Trade

• The AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) was launched on January 1, 2021 after some setbacks (e.g. COVID-19 interruption in 2020). The agreement was signed to remove barriers and encourage trade within Africa.
• This analysis looks at the volume of trade and relationships amongst African countries.
• Note: Countries not featured do not meet the trade volume category (>$100m) but this does not exclude trade relationships that exist across borders. The focus is solely on A (between $100m and $999m) and B (above $999m).

 

Trade within North Africa

• North African countries generally trade among themselves and make up top partners.
• Egypt, Morocco and Algeria are top traders within the region. They have high trade volumes with countries outside the North African region. Morocco has more of West African countries while Egypt and Algeria have countries from East, West and Southern Africa.
• Outside the North African region, Western and Southern Africa countries are top partners with North African countries. Sudan and South Sudan trade more with their Eastern African counterparts.

 

Trade within West Africa

• West African countries generally trade among themselves and make up top partners.
• Outside the West African region, South Africa, Morocco and Algeria are top partners with countries in the region.
• Togo, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria are the top traders within the region – Côte d’Ivoire is the most active within the region.

 

Trade within Central Africa

• Within the region, Congo is the most active and diversified trader within the region.
• Due to its position, there are trade partnerships with countries from Eastern, Western, Southern and North Africa.

 

Trade within East Africa

• The East African region has more countries within it than any other region.
• Outside the East African region, South Africa, Congo, Algeria, Egypt are top partners with East African countries.
• Within the region, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda and Mozambique are top traders within the region.

 

Trade within Southern Africa

• Southern African countries generally trade among themselves and make up top partners – every country within the region has South Africa has its top trade partner.
• South Africa is the most active and diversified trader within the region.