The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) reported a record net profit of $1.15 billion for the 2025 financial year, representing a 19 percent increase from the $973.5 million recorded in 2024.
Total assets for the pan-African lender grew by 21 percent to reach $48.5 billion, driven largely by a 16 percent rise in net loans and advances to $33.5 billion.
The bank’s gross income climbed to $3.5 billion, supported by the strong performance of its subsidiaries and increased interest income from trade finance and infrastructure projects across the continent.
Shareholders’ funds rose to $8.4 billion during the period, bolstered by a combination of high-interest income retention and fresh equity inflows totaling nearly $300 million from member states.
The financial results come despite a public dispute with Fitch Ratings, which downgraded the bank to “junk” status (BB+) in early 2026 following concerns over sovereign debt exposures.
Afreximbank subsequently terminated its relationship with Fitch, arguing the agency failed to understand its treaty-based “preferred creditor status” and the unique mandate of African multilateral institutions.
The bank maintained a healthy non-performing loan ratio of 2.43 percent, although its cost-to-income ratio rose slightly to 21 percent due to inflationary pressures and increased operational staff requirements.
Management attributed the results to the successful execution of its 6th Strategic Plan, which focuses on intra-African trade and supporting sovereign transitions toward industrialization and economic stability.
