Afreximbank records 25% growth in Q1 profit

The African Export-Import Bank has announced a 25 per cent growth in net income for the first quarter of 2026, driven by strong lending activities, disciplined balance sheet management, and improved profitability.

“This performance underscores the bank’s resilience and strong deal execution capabilities within a challenging global operating environment,” the bank’s Communications and Events Manager, Vincent Musumba, stated on Friday, 22 May 2026, via a statement.

According to the group’s financial results for the three months ended 31 March 2026, the Pan-African multilateral financial institution expanded its lending activities, resulting in a two per cent increase in total credit exposure. The portfolio reached $42bn in the first quarter of the year, up from the $42bn, up from the $41bn recorded as of 31 December 2025.

Management attributed this expansion to its central role as a leading Development Finance Institution supporting cross-border trade and trade-enabling infrastructure across Africa and the Caribbean.

“Our targeted intervention strategies continue to cushion member states against external shocks while creating structured liquidity pipelines to sustain infrastructure projects,” Musumba noted.

The financial statement further revealed that net interest margins remained robust during the period under review, supported by a disciplined approach to asset pricing and cost of funds optimisation despite high international interest rates.

Looking ahead, the bank noted that it would continue to prioritise key structural initiatives, including the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area adjustment fund and the expansion of its digital payment ecosystems, to drive long-term intra-African trade value.

The bank’s performance comes at a time when intra-African trade is gaining momentum under the AfCFTA. Afreximbank serves as the main financial backbone for this initiative, notably anchoring the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, which helps countries transition into the tariff-free regime.

The first quarter of 2026 saw persistent global economic pressures, including elevated interest rates from central banks like the US Federal Reserve, volatile commodity prices, and currency fluctuations across major African economies (such as the Nigerian naira and Egyptian pound). Achieving 25 per cent net income growth demonstrates robust structural risk management against these factors.