-
Container ships wait to load and offload goods in port during a 21-day nationwide lockdown aimed at limiting the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cape Town, South Africa, April 17, 2020.
The Standard Bank Africa Trade Barometer shows improved trade within the continent. That’s despite the continent’s trade deficit of about 39 billion US Dollars in 2025.
Africa exports raw material at a low value, while importing manufactured goods at a higher value.
The bank says the continent needs to transform and explore ways of closing that gap.
The barometer is a collection of trade data across 10 markets on the African continent. These include Angola, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, among others.
The 2025 barometer indicates that trade has improved on the continent due to developments in infrastructure projects.
The bank says that since the inception of the barometer, this is the first time all elements in the infrastructure category improved.
However, the bank says the commodity export structure remains a concern.
Andrew Mashanda, Africa regions and offshore business and commercial head at Standard Bank, says, “The trade deficit, as I said, is a commodity export structural challenge that we have. We have a continent that’s actually exporting raw materials, which is really at the lowest value of value addition and we’re importing manufactured goods”.
The bank says business confidence increased to 65 index points in 2025 due to most firms expecting stronger turnover and more stable economic conditions but climate-related pressures remain a constraint.
Philip Myburgh, trade, business and commercial head at Standard Bank, says, “Since the inception of the Africa Trade Barometer in 2022, this is the fifth edition, in fact, that we’ve launched since then. We’ve seen continued progress on important elements that are required to grow trade on the continent”.
“We see improved perceptions by businesses on the ground as it relates to government trade, government support for trade. We’re seeing increased perceptions around infrastructure. Infrastructure, of course, is a key enabler to trade,” he adds.
He says,”We’re seeing improved infrastructure across road, rail, air, and water. All of them have improved”.
Looking ahead, the bank says Africa is being reshaped by integration and improved infrastructure.
However, ongoing conflict in the Middle East introduces uncertainty around energy prices and supply chains that could affect trade costs.
