African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) posted a 30% jump in net income to $534.7 million for the first half of 2026, driven by expanding lending activities and improved asset quality across regional trade portfolios.
According to half-year financial statements released Monday in Cairo, net loans and advances increased 5.7% to $35.4 billion, elevating net interest income by 22% to $1.0 billion from $0.84 billion recorded in H1 2025.
Total assets and contingencies expanded 7.8% to $52.3 billion, while liquid assets stood at 13% of total assets, maintaining the institution’s strategic liquidity target range of 10% to 15%.
Asset quality improved as the non-performing loan ratio declined to 2.20% from 2.43% at year-end 2025, lifting return on average shareholders’ equity to 13% from 11% in the prior-year period.
Fee and commission income grew 15% to $71.1 million, backed by higher earnings from guarantees, advisory services, and letters of credit supporting regional trade flows.
Operational efficiency for the multilateral lender remained stable, with the cost-to-income ratio holding at a healthy 20% despite global inflationary pressures and elevated personnel expenses.
“Our healthy balance sheet gives us the capacity to respond when markets are disrupted, while continuing to finance the trade, industrialisation, and investment that underpin longer-term economic resilience,” said Mr. Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President.
Following the reporting period, the bank completed its largest international debt issuance, raising $1.5 billion through a dual-tranche bond offering that closed approximately two times oversubscribed.
The financial results coincide with projections indicating intra-African trade will reach $230 billion in 2026, accelerated by expanding usage of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
