Latest news with #Afreximbank


See - Sada Elbalad
6 hours ago
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
Afreximbank's Assets Surge to $43.5 Billion
Taarek Refaat As his transformative tenure comes to a close, Professor Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), announced a monumental rise in the institution's assets, revenues, and impact over the past decade, as he officially steps down during the opening session of the Bank's 32nd Annual Meetings hosted in Nigeria. Speaking before stakeholders and dignitaries, Oramah revealed that Afreximbank's total assets and guarantees soared from $5 billion in 2015 to $43.5 billion in April 2025—a more than eightfold increase. Over the same period, total revenues jumped from $408 million to $3.24 billion, while net income surged by 700%, reaching $1 billion in 2024. Oramah, who has helmed the bank since 2015, reflected on a decade marked by crises and resilience. 'We were tested by shocks—from commodity price crashes and a global pandemic to geopolitical upheaval—but with strong shareholder support, we delivered," he said. Though stepping down, Oramah set an ambitious tone for Afreximbank's next chapter, forecasting that the bank's total assets and guarantees could exceed $250 billion within the next ten years. 'Today, Afreximbank is not just a bank—it is a continental shield in times of crisis and a catalyst for Africa's transformation,' he stated. Afreximbank's track record under Oramah's leadership has been marked by bold and responsive financial interventions across the continent and beyond. Between 2020 and May 2025, the bank invested $120 billion across Africa and the Caribbean, addressing urgent development and recovery needs. Over the past decade, it deployed a total of $155 billion in trade finance and economic support, solidifying its role as a financial backbone for African economies. During the 2015–2016 commodity price shock, Afreximbank disbursed $10 billion to support countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, and Ghana in meeting their trade-related debt obligations and stabilizing their foreign exchange markets. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank allocated $8 billion in assistance—including $2 billion specifically for the procurement of 400 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines. In response to the geopolitical and economic disruptions caused by the Russia–Ukraine conflict, Afreximbank disbursed $50 billion between 2022 and 2023, further reinforcing its role as a crisis-response institution for the continent. Innovation in Payments and Trade Finance Since the launch of Afreximbank's proprietary "AfPAY" cross-border payment system in 2020, the bank has facilitated $68 billion in commercial payments across 61 African and Caribbean nations. Additionally, it supported $33 billion in trade finance through letters of credit and confirmation services in over 30 countries. These financial instruments have helped reduce Africa's dependency on foreign currency and streamlined intra-African trade in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda. Shareholder equity has grown dramatically—from $1 billion in 2015 to $7.5 billion in 2025, while liquidity expanded tenfold from $450 million to $4.5 billion over the same period. As Professor Oramah exits his post, he leaves behind not just a stronger institution, but a symbol of African financial sovereignty and resilience. "It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead Afreximbank during these defining years," he said, thanking Nigeria for hosting what would be his final address to shareholders as president. His legacy, by all metrics, is one of exponential growth, bold leadership, and deep commitment to Africa's future. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean

Business Insider
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Nigerian billionaire, Dangote, sets ambitious goal with $2.5 billion fertilizer plant
Africa could become self-sufficient in fertilizer production within the next 40 months, according to Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote. Aliko Dangote projects Africa's self-sufficiency in fertilizer production within 40 months. Dangote fertilizer plant's planned expansion aims to boost production capacity and reduce reliance on imports. Enhancing local fertilizer production could address intra-African supply gaps and improve food security. Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has unveiled plans to expand the $2.5 billion Dangote fertilizer Plant as part of a broader strategy to accelerate industrial transformation across the continent. The expansion, which will significantly boost production capacity, is aimed at reducing Africa's heavy reliance on imported fertilizer and improving self-sufficiency in agricultural inputs. "In the next 40 months, Africa will not import fertilizer from anywhere. We have a very aggressive trajectory right now. We want to put Dangote to be the highest producer of urea, bigger and higher than Qatar - give me 40 months," Dangote said at the annual Afreximbank meeting in Abuja as per Reuters Dangote's impact in Africa's fertilizer industry Africa currently imports over 6 million metric tons of fertilizer annually, a costly dependence that hampers agricultural productivity and exposes farmers to global supply shocks. According to a trade report by Afreximbank, the value of Africa's fertilizer exports in 2021 reached $8.9 billion, more than double the continent's imports of $3.7 billion—a surplus driven largely by North African producers. Morocco and Egypt alone accounted for $6.23 billion in fertilizer exports, representing over 70% of Africa's total and highlighting the region's growing significance in global supply chains. Fifteen African countries were net exporters of fertilizer that year, emphasizing the continent's potential to play a greater role in intra-African trade. However, key markets such as Ethiopia, Côte d'Ivoire, Zambia, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo remained heavily reliant on imports. As at today, Dangote's plant, already one of the largest in the world, has the capacity to produce up to 3 million metric tons of urea per year. According to Dangote, roughly 37% of the company's urea output is shipped to the United States, making the U.S. a key market. Beyond the U.S., Dangote also exports urea to other key markets such as Brazil, which has historically relied on Russian fertilizer supplies, as well as India and Mexico.

Business Insider
9 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Gabon secures $3.8 billion Afreximbank pact for Gold, Manganese and energy projects
Gabon has signed a $3.8 billion memorandum of understanding with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to fund major national development projects across mining, energy, and transport sectors. Gabon signed a $3.8 billion MoU with Afreximbank to fund development projects. The agreement aims to enhance mining, energy, and transport sectors in Gabon. Most gold production in Gabon is currently unregulated, requiring better oversight. Gabon has signed a $3.8 billion memorandum of understanding with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to fund major national development projects across mining, energy, and transport sectors. The agreement, formalized during Afreximbank's annual general meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, aims to support the development of gold and manganese trading, enhance energy infrastructure, and expand the country's railway network. Gabon's gold sector remains heavily informal, with approximately 70% of production coming from unregulated sources. Inadequate infrastructure, particularly poor road networks, continues to hinder the sector's growth. Afreximbank's support for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Africa Quality Assurance Centers (AQACs) is expected to bring greater oversight and formalization, though success will depend on stronger enforcement of mining regulations. As the world's second-largest producer of manganese, a vital mineral for steel production, and one of the smallest members of OPEC+, producing around 220,000 barrels of crude oil per day, Gabon is positioning itself to strengthen industrial and export capacity. According to recent data, Gabon's economy expanded by 2.9% in 2024, largely driven by oil production and increased public investment. Minister of State for Economy, Finance and Debt, Henri-Claude Oyima, signed the agreement on behalf of the Gabonese government. However, President Brice Oligui Nguema, has pledged to reduce Gabon's overdependence on oil by prioritizing sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing, part of a broader strategy to combat poverty and diversify the economy.


Reuters
10 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Nigeria's Dangote aims to end Africa's fertiliser imports
LAGOS, June 27 (Reuters) - Africa will be self-sufficient in fertiliser within 40 months, Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote said on Friday, on the basis of a planned expansion of his $2.5 billion plant on the outskirts of Lagos. Africa currently imports over 6 million metric tons of fertiliser annually as it struggles to produce enough food in often challenging growing conditions. The benefits of increasing domestic production would include reduced foreign exchange expenditure, which has been a major economic burden in Nigeria because of the weakness of the local currency. "In the next 40 months, Africa will not import fertiliser from anywhere. We have a very aggressive trajectory right now. We want to put Dangote to be the highest producer of urea, bigger and higher than Qatar - give me 40 months," Dangote said at the annual Afreximbank meeting in Abuja. Dangote runs Africa's largest granulated urea complex, which has annual capacity of 3 million tons, 37% of which it exports to the United States. It will need to double current output to achieve his ambition. Dangote has said he is not worried about the impact of Trump tariffs. Analysts say the market outlook for fertiliser is bullish, but there are also challenges and the kind of expansion Dangote seeks requires infrastructure to be built. "Any new fertiliser plant or expansion project faces cost overrun risks to the producer," Seth Goldstein, senior equity analyst at Morningstar Research, said. Mikolah Judson, an analyst at global risk consultancy, Control Risk, cited the need for "transport infrastructure and port capacity," saying "bottlenecks routinely delay various import and export projects in Nigeria". Dangote has a track record for delivering big projects. He also owns the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Africa's largest, although its launch was repeatedly delayed and it exceeded its initial budget. He has said he intends to list the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery next year and on Friday he also confirmed plans to list his fertiliser plant on the local stock exchange this year.


Zawya
10 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria's Dangote aims to end Africa's fertiliser imports
Africa will be self-sufficient in fertiliser within 40 months, Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote said on Friday, on the basis of a planned expansion of his $2.5 billion plant on the outskirts of Lagos. Africa currently imports over 6 million metric tons of fertiliser annually as it struggles to produce enough food in often challenging growing conditions. The benefits of increasing domestic production would include reduced foreign exchange expenditure, which has been a major economic burden in Nigeria because of the weakness of the local currency. "In the next 40 months, Africa will not import fertiliser from anywhere. We have a very aggressive trajectory right now. We want to put Dangote to be the highest producer of urea, bigger and higher than Qatar - give me 40 months," Dangote said at the annual Afreximbank meeting in Abuja. Dangote runs Africa's largest granulated urea complex, which has annual capacity of 3 million tons, 37% of which it exports to the United States. It will need to double current output to achieve his ambition. Dangote has said he is not worried about the impact of Trump tariffs. Analysts say the market outlook for fertiliser is bullish, but there are also challenges and the kind of expansion Dangote seeks requires infrastructure to be built. "Any new fertiliser plant or expansion project faces cost overrun risks to the producer," Seth Goldstein, senior equity analyst at Morningstar Research, said. Mikolah Judson, an analyst at global risk consultancy, Control Risk, cited the need for "transport infrastructure and port capacity," saying "bottlenecks routinely delay various import and export projects in Nigeria". Dangote has a track record for delivering big projects. He also owns the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Africa's largest, although its launch was repeatedly delayed and it exceeded its initial budget. He has said he intends to list the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery next year and on Friday he also confirmed plans to list his fertiliser plant on the local stock exchange this year.