LA SUITE APRÈS LA PUBLICITÉ

The African Export-Import Bank – Afreximbank and its subsidiaries have announced a robust financial performance for the first quarter ended 31 March 2026.

Despite a challenging global operating environment marked by geopolitical risks and tight financial conditions, the Group demonstrated remarkable resilience and disciplined balance sheet management.

Total credit exposure grew by 2% to reach US42 billion, up from US41 billion at the end of 2025. This expansion highlights the Bank’s critical role as a Development Finance Institution – DFI dedicated to financing trade and trade-enabling infrastructure across Africa and the Caribbean.

Driven by an 8% increase in average loans and advances compared to the same period last year, the Group achieved significant profitability. Net interest income surged by 24% year-on-year to US510.0 million, pushing total gross income to US874.1 million.

Consequently, net income for the quarter rose to US268.9 million, up from US215.4 million in Q1 2025. This strong bottom-line performance contributed to an improved return on average equity (ROAE) of 13%, while the cost-to-income ratio remained highly efficient at 19%, well below the Group’s 30% strategic ceiling.

Afreximbank maintained a fortress balance sheet characterized by high asset quality and strong liquidity cushions. Cash and cash equivalents stood at US5.6 billion, representing 14% of total assets and comfortably exceeding the Bank’s strategic minimum.

The non-performing loan – NPL ratio remained stable and low at 2.40%, down slightly from 2.43% at FY2025. Additionally, the Group’s capital adequacy ratio held firm at 23%, and shareholders’ funds increased to US8.6 billion, bolstered by internally generated capital and new equity investments received during the quarter.

Underscoring its vital counter-cyclical mandate, Afreximbank launched a massive US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme in March 2026. This strategic initiative aims to assist member countries in mitigating the adverse spillover effects of the Gulf crisis by supporting liquidity, stabilizing trade, and addressing supply-side disruptions in vital sectors such as energy, agriculture, and aviation. Alongside this crisis response, the Bank continued to deploy targeted financing and advisory support to strengthen industrial capacity and economic resilience across its member states.

The quarter also marked a historic milestone for regional integration as South Africa officially ratified the Bank’s Establishment Agreement in February 2026. Bringing one of the continent’s largest and most diversified economies into the fold grants Afreximbank full continental coverage.

Commenting on the results, Senior Executive Vice President Denys Denya emphasized that the Group’s swift response to global disruptions and its strong financial buffers position it uniquely to continue stabilizing trade flows and advancing economic transformation across Africa and the Caribbean.