BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) net income has risen by 24 percent to US$813.5 million, compared with US$654.3 million in the corresponding period of 2025, representing improved interest income and disciplined cost management.
Delivered for the nine months ended 30 September 2026, the satisfactory financial performance demonstrated resilient growth, sound asset quality and continued support for trade and economic development across Africa and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The group’s total assets and contingencies increased by 12 percent to US$54.1 billion, from US$48.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2025. The growth was underpinned by an expansion of the bank’s lending portfolio, with net loans and advances increasing by eight percent to US$36.2 billion, compared to US$33.5 billion at year end 2025.
Gross income increased to US$2.7 billion in nine months of 2026, up 11 percent from the prior period, supported by continued balance sheet growth and strong earnings generation.
The performance was largely driven by a 9.1 percent increase in interest income to US$2.4 billion, from US$2.2 billion in 9M’2025, underpinned by growth in average loan balances, which increased from US$28.9 billion in 9M’2025 to US$34.8 billion in 9M’2026. This reflected sustained demand for trade and project financing across the bank’s member countries, just as the net interest income strengthened by 15 percent to US$1.5 billion.
Fees and commission income from unfunded business activities, including guarantees, letters of credit and advisory services, increased to US$136.9 million, from US$117.2 million in the prior-year period.
The group maintained strong operational efficiency, with its cost-to-income ratio improving to 20 percent, compared with 21 percent for the nine months ended September 2025, remaining comfortably below the bank’s strategic ceiling of 30 percent. Return On Average Shareholders’ Equity (ROAE) remained robust at 12 percent, while return on average assets (ROAA) improved to 2.48 percent, from 2.34 percent compared to the 9M '2025.
Asset quality remained sound, with the Non-performing Loans (NPL) ratio at 2.48 percent, compared with 2.43 percent as at 31 December 2025. Provisions for expected credit losses amounted to US$537.6 million, compared with US$481.3 million in the corresponding period of 2025.
The group’s liquidity position remained strong, with liquid assets totalling US$6.1 billion, representing 13 percent of total assets, compared with 15 percent at the end of 2025. The capital adequacy ratio stood at 22 percent, compared with 23 percent at the end of 2025, underscoring the resilience of the bank’s balance sheet and alignment with its long-term capital management objectives.
Shareholders’ funds increased to US$9.0 billion, from US$8.4 billion at the end of 2025, supported by internally generated profits and US$195.2 million in new equity contributions under the bank’s General Capital Increase programme.
Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, Mr. Denys Denya explained that the performance underscored Afreximbank’s ability to deliver strong and sustainable performance while continuing to fulfil its development mandate across Africa and the Caribbean.
He stated that the bank’s expanded lending portfolio, robust profitability and strong capital position demonstrated the effectiveness of the strategy and the growing relevance of interventions across the target markets.
“As global economic and geopolitical uncertainties persist, Afreximbank remains committed to providing the financing, trade facilitation and strategic investments needed to strengthen regional value chains, support industrialisation and accelerate the continent’s economic transformation,” he said.
During the nine-month period, Afreximbank strengthened its access to international debt capital markets, successfully completing a US$1.5 billion dual-tranche bond issuance in July 2026.
The transaction comprised US$750 million in 5.5-year notes and US$750 million in 10-year notes and was approximately two times oversubscribed, increasing issued debt securities to US$4.4 billion, from US$3.4 billion at the end of 2025, further supporting the diversification of the group’s funding base.
As the bank continued to demonstrate its countercyclical role in response to geopolitical and economic disruptions, the US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme was established to provide critical 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.
In line with its commitment to transformative development, the group’s high-impact investments also increased by 23 percent to US$1.6 billion, from US$1.3 billion at the end of 2025, supporting strategic development projects that advance industrialisation, trade competitiveness and economic resilience.
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