Core Insights - Togo has become Ghana's largest border trade partner with a trade volume of nearly 1.8 billion cedis, accounting for 61.2% of Ghana's border trade [1] Trade Relationships - Ghana has a trade deficit with Togo, primarily importing essential goods such as cooking oil and rice [1] - In contrast, Ghana has a trade surplus of 576 million cedis with Burkina Faso, mainly exporting alcoholic beverages [1] - Trade with Côte d'Ivoire also shows a surplus of 378 million cedis, with border trade accounting for 55.7% [1] Commodity Structure - Food and beverages dominate the trade structure, with alcoholic, soft, and energy drinks making up 55.8% of Ghana's beverage exports to neighboring countries [1] - On the import side, staple foods such as rice (9.4%), sugar (6.1%), corn (6.0%), and legumes (3.5%) collectively account for a quarter of all border food imports [1] Recommendations - The Ghana Statistical Service suggests measures to support small traders, including simplifying procedures, expanding microcredit access, and improving border infrastructure to enhance competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework [1]

Core Insights - The Nigerian pavilion at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 in Algiers has seen significant attendance and engagement, marking it as the most-visited pavilion at the event [2][3] - The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is actively facilitating collaboration among various agencies to enhance Nigeria's export capabilities [3][6] - Non-oil exports from Nigeria reached $3.225 billion in the first half of 2025, reflecting a growth from $2.696 billion in the same period of 2024, with export volume increasing to 4.04 million metric tonnes [5][14] Industry Developments - The NEPC is focusing on value addition to products, encouraging exporters to process raw materials to achieve premium prices in the global market [6][7] - Initiatives are in place to support women in business, with the NEPC being a pilot beneficiary of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) fund, which aims to empower female-led businesses through grants and training [12][13] - The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is viewed as a significant opportunity for Nigeria to expand its market access and enhance intra-African trade [12][14] Capacity Building and Training - The NEPC has organized 252 training programs in the first half of 2025, reaching over 27,000 participants, focusing on export documentation, quality standards, and good agricultural practices [10][11] - Emphasis is placed on the importance of packaging and certification to meet international standards, which is crucial for successful exports [11] Future Outlook - The NEPC anticipates continued growth in the non-oil export sector, projecting a positive outlook with over 20% year-on-year growth since the current leadership began [14] - Nigeria's hosting of the IATF in 2027 is expected to provide a significant platform for showcasing Nigerian products and enhancing economic visibility [14]

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that Swiss SGS will renew its Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PECAE) contract with Cameroon, maintaining its status as the official certifying body for imported goods in the country [1] - The renewal of the contract is expected to generate significant revenue for SGS, with potential annual income estimated between $41 million and $82 million based on Cameroon’s projected imports of approximately $8.2 billion in 2024 [1] - The inspection fees for pre-shipment verification typically range from 0.5% to 1% of the Free on Board (FOB) price of the goods, indicating a substantial financial opportunity for SGS [1] Group 2 - The PECAE program, established under Prime Ministerial Order No. 2019/143, implements systematic control over nearly all imported goods in Cameroon, with exemptions only for items valued below 2 million Central African Francs (approximately $3,250) [2] - The program aims to combat the importation of substandard products, requiring all shipments to undergo inspection in the country of origin, including laboratory testing and compliance verification with Cameroonian standards [2] - SGS collaborates with the Cameroon Standards and Quality Agency (ANOR) to issue a Certificate of Conformity (CoC), which is essential for customs clearance in Cameroon, with non-compliance potentially leading to seizure of goods and legal penalties [2]

Core Insights - The African Export-Import Bank has launched a $3 billion internal oil import financing program to address the continent's reliance on imported refined oil products, which costs approximately $30 billion annually due to insufficient refining capacity [1][2] Group 1: Financing Program Details - The $3 billion financing program is expected to provide between $10 billion to $14 billion for internal oil imports within Africa [1] - The program aims to align with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals, promoting internal trade, industrialization, and job creation across the continent [1] Group 2: Refinery Investments - The African Export-Import Bank is the largest financier of the Dangote Refinery, which is set to begin operations in January 2024 [2] - The bank is also supporting the development of the Lobito refinery, which has a capacity of 200,000 barrels per day, and has made progress with the Cabinda refinery, which produces 60,000 barrels per day [2] - Additional funding has been approved for the renovation of the Port Harcourt refinery, which has a capacity of 210,000 barrels per day, and for the development of the BUA and Azikel refineries in Nigeria [2] Group 3: Strategic Goals - Through these investments, the African Export-Import Bank aims to create over 1.3 million barrels per day of refining capacity, transforming the Gulf of Guinea into a significant refining hub for Africa and the world [2] - The financing program will primarily target oil traders, banks, governments, and state-owned enterprises authorized to import refined oil products, facilitating the procurement of refined oil from African refineries for internal consumption and potential export opportunities [2]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. tariffs imposed under Trump's "America First" policy significantly impact African economies, particularly those heavily reliant on exports to the U.S. [1][2] Group 1: Tariff Impact on African Economies - African countries face high tariffs, with Lesotho at 50%, Madagascar at 47%, Mauritius at 40%, and South Africa at 30%, among others [1] - The tariffs threaten the export competitiveness of African economies, especially Namibia, Mozambique, and Eswatini, which are highly export-dependent [2][4] - The tariffs undermine the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which previously allowed certain African countries to export approximately 1,800 products to the U.S. duty-free [2][5] Group 2: Economic Adjustments and Responses - African nations may respond to the tariffs with a mix of retaliation and compromise, given the power asymmetry in U.S.-Africa relations [2][7] - Long-term strategies may include strengthening regional trade agreements like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and diversifying export markets towards China and the EU [2][3][7] - The World Bank predicts that AfCFTA could help lift 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty and increase African income by $450 billion by 2035 [2] Group 3: Sector-Specific Impacts - South Africa's automotive and agricultural sectors face a 30% tariff, prompting potential strategies to deepen ties with other regions, particularly the EU and China [6] - Countries like Lesotho and Kenya, which heavily depend on AGOA, may experience significant job losses and declines in export revenues due to the loss of duty-free access [5][6] Group 4: Broader Economic Implications - The uneven tariff impacts may exacerbate economic disparities across Africa, with regions more exposed to U.S. markets likely to struggle more than others [6] - Financial markets may react negatively, increasing borrowing costs for governments with substantial external debt, further straining fiscal stability [4][6]