The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) recorded a 30 per cent increase in net income to $534.7 million in the first half of 2026, driven by stronger lending and improved asset quality.
The bank’s net income rose from $412.7 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Net interest income increased by 22 per cent to $1 billion, while net loans and advances grew by 5.7 per cent to $35.4 billion from $33.5 billion at the end of 2025.
Total assets and contingencies increased by 7.8 per cent to $52.3 billion.
The bank’s non-performing loan ratio also improved to 2.20 per cent from 2.43 per cent at the end of 2025.
Return on average shareholders’ equity rose to 13 per cent from 11 per cent in the first half of 2025, while return on average assets increased to 2.54 per cent from 2.22 per cent.
Fee and commission income grew by 15 per cent to $71.1 million, supported by increased fees from guarantees, letters of credit and advisory services.
Afreximbank Senior Executive Vice President, Denys Denya, said the performance demonstrated the resilience of the bank despite challenging global economic conditions.
“Our financial performance and strong position reflect the continued resilience of the Group at a time when our member countries are navigating a particularly complex global environment,” Denya said.
He said the bank’s stronger balance sheet would enable it to respond to market disruptions while continuing to finance trade, industrialisation and investment.
“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,” he said.
The bank maintained a strong liquidity position, with liquid assets accounting for 13 per cent of total assets, within its strategic target range of 10 to 15 per cent.
Shareholders’ funds rose to $8.5 billion, supported by internally generated profits of $534.7 million and $13.9 million in new equity raised during the period.
Following the reporting period, Afreximbank strengthened its funding position through a $1.5 billion dual-tranche bond issuance, described as the largest international debt capital markets transaction in the bank’s history.
The issuance comprised $750 million in a 5.5-year tranche and another $750 million in a 10-year tranche.
The transaction was approximately two times oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor demand.
The bank said the strong performance would enhance its capacity to finance trade, industrialisation and investment across Africa and the Caribbean.
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