Afreximbank delivers strong half-year 2026 performance, driven by robust growth and profitability

KAMPALA, August 24, 2026 — African Export-Import Bank [ Afreximbank ] and its subsidiaries (“the Group”) delivered a strong financial performance for the six months ended 30 June 2026, underscoring the resilience of its business model and continued support towards trade and economic development activities across Africa and the Caribbean.

The Group’s total assets and contingencies increased by 7.8 percent to US$ 52.3 billion, up from US$ 48.5bln at December 31, 2025. This growth was primarily driven by expansion in the Bank’s lending activities, with net loans and advances increasing by 5.7 percent to US$ 35.4bln, compared with US$ 33.5bln at the end of 2025.

Afreximbank maintained sound asset quality, with the non-performing loan [NPL] ratio of  2.20 percent at the end of the first half of 2026 compared to 2.43 percent at year-end 2025, reflecting prudent risk management.

The Group also maintained a sound liquidity position, with liquid assets accounting for 13 percent of total assets, comfortably within its strategic target range of 10 percent to 15 percent.

 

Shareholders’ funds increased to US$8.5bln from US$8.4bln at the end of 2025, supported by US$534.7 million in internally generated profits, and US$13.9mln in new equity raised during the period.

The Group recorded a significant increase in earnings, with net interest income rising by 22 percent to US$1.0bln, compared with US$ 0.84bln during the corresponding period in 2025.

In addition, fee and commission income increased by 15 percent to US$ 71.1mln, up from US$ 61.9mln in H1’2025, supported by higher fees earned from guarantees, letters of credit and advisory services.

As a result, net income reached US$ 534.7mln, representing a 30 percent increase from US$ 412.7mln recorded in the first half of 2025.

Profitability indicators showed further improvement, with return on average shareholders’ equity rising to 13 percent, compared with 11 percent in H1’2025, while return on average assets increased to 2.54 percent from 2.22 percent over the same period.

Operational efficiency remained strong, with the cost-to-income ratio at a healthy level of 20 percent compared to 19 percent for H1’2025, despite higher personnel expenses and persistent inflationary pressures.

Further strengthening its funding profile, Afreximbank successfully completed a US$1.5bln dual-tranche bond issuance after the reporting period. The transaction, the largest international debt capital markets issuance in the Bank’s history, comprised a US$ 750mln 5.5-year tranche and a US$ 750mln 10-year tranche. The offering was approximately two times oversubscribed, highlighting strong investor confidence and reinforcing the Bank’s capacity to support its strategic growth objectives.

Source: Afreximbank

Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, commented: “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. 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.”

Denya said the expansion of our lending, the strength of our asset quality and continued access to diversified funding enable the lender to remain responsive to immediate challenges while supporting the structural transformation of African and Caribbean economies.

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