By | Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has recorded a 24 per cent increase in net income to $813.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, as its total assets and contingencies rose to $54.1 billion, reflecting sustained growth in lending and trade financing across Africa and the Caribbean.
The bank disclosed this in its nine-month financial results released in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday, October 26, 2026.
According to the results, the bank’s net income increased from $654.3 million recorded during the corresponding period of 2025 to $813.5 million in 2026, driven by increased lending activities, improved interest income and disciplined cost management despite prevailing global economic uncertainties.
The Group’s total assets and contingencies also grew by 12 per cent to $54.1 billion, compared with $48.5 billion at the end of 2025.
Similarly, net loans and advances increased by eight per cent to $36.2 billion from $33.5 billion at the end of the previous year, reflecting sustained demand for trade and project financing across the bank’s member countries.
Gross income rose by 11 per cent to $2.7 billion during the nine-month period, up from $2.4 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.
The growth was supported by a 9.1 per cent increase in interest income to $2.4 billion from $2.2 billion, while average loan balances expanded from $28.9 billion to $34.8 billion.
Net interest income also increased by 15 per cent to $1.5 billion, while fees and commissions from unfunded business activities, including guarantees, letters of credit and advisory services, rose to $136.9 million from $117.2 million.
The bank further strengthened its operational efficiency, reducing its cost-to-income ratio to 20 per cent from 21 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025, remaining well below its strategic ceiling of 30 per cent.
Return on average shareholders’ equity remained stable at 12 per cent, while return on average assets improved to 2.48 per cent from 2.34 per cent.
Commenting on the performance, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, Mr. Denys Denya, said the results demonstrated the institution’s capacity to sustain profitability while fulfilling its development mandate across Africa and the Caribbean.
“This performance underscores Afreximbank’s ability to deliver strong and sustainable performance while continuing to fulfil its development mandate across Africa and the Caribbean,” Denya said.
He explained that the bank’s expanding lending portfolio, strong profitability and capital position reflected the effectiveness of its strategy and the growing importance of its interventions across its target markets.
According to him, the bank remains committed to providing financing, facilitating trade and supporting strategic investments to strengthen regional value chains, promote industrialisation and accelerate Africa’s economic transformation amid persistent global economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
On asset quality, Afreximbank reported a non-performing loans ratio of 2.48 per cent, compared with 2.43 per cent as of December 31, 2025.
Provisions for expected credit losses increased to $537.6 million from $481.3 million in the corresponding period of 2025.
The Group’s liquidity position remained strong, with liquid assets standing at $6.1 billion, representing 13 per cent of total assets, compared with 15 per cent at the end of 2025.
Its capital adequacy ratio stood at 22 per cent, down from 23 per cent at the end of 2025, while shareholders’ funds increased to $9 billion from $8.4 billion.
The growth in shareholders’ funds was supported by internally generated profits and $195.2 million in new equity contributions under the bank’s General Capital Increase programme.
The financial results also showed that Afreximbank successfully raised $1.5 billion through a dual-tranche bond issuance in July 2026, comprising $750 million in 5.5-year notes and another $750 million in 10-year notes.
The transaction was approximately two times oversubscribed, reflecting investor demand for the bank’s debt securities.
Following the issuance, the Group’s outstanding debt securities increased to $4.4 billion from $3.4 billion at the end of 2025, further diversifying its funding sources.
Meanwhile, the bank continued to deploy interventions aimed at cushioning member countries against economic and geopolitical disruptions.
It established a $10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme to provide liquidity support, facilitate trade and payment flows, and help member countries maintain access to essential imports, including energy products, fertilisers, food and other strategic commodities.
Afreximbank also reported a 23 per cent increase in its high-impact investments to $1.6 billion from $1.3 billion at the end of 2025.
The investments are intended to support strategic development projects that promote industrialisation, strengthen trade competitiveness and enhance economic resilience across its markets.
The nine-month performance underscores the bank’s continued expansion in lending, profitability and development financing as it seeks to strengthen trade and economic integration between African countries and the Caribbean.
