Afreximbank, ATDC sign $500m facility to expand African trade and distribution

African Export-Import Bank and the Africa Trading and Distribution Company have signed a $500 million Global Credit facility agreement to support trade, movement and distribution of commodities and products across African and global markets.

ATDC is a pan-African platform established to support the expansion of Africa’s trade, accelerate industrialisation through increased local value addition, and strengthen economic integration across the continent. With initial local operations in Egypt, Nigeria, Malawi and Zimbabwe, the platform is closing gaps in trade and market intelligence, improving market access, and supporting implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Under the Facility, Afreximbank will provide ATDC with trade-finance capacity to undertake and scale eligible trading and distribution transactions across the continent. The financing will support purchasing and aggregation of African goods, associated logistics, transportation, warehousing and distribution costs, providing ATDC with the financing required across different stages of the trade and distribution cycle.

ATDC will deploy financing available under the facility towards eligible trade, logistics and distribution transactions with repayments anchored on proceeds generated from the sale of goods financed through the facility.

Commenting on the signing, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank commented “The $500 million Global Credit Facility extended to ATDC underscores Afreximbank’s commitment to strengthening the trade, logistics and distribution architecture required to realise the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 

By facilitating the efficient distribution of ‘Made-in-Africa’ goods across the continent, the facility will deepen regional value chains, expand market access for African producers, and boost manufactured exports, advancing the AfCFTA’s vision of a more integrated and industrialised African economy. 

It will also enhance the global competitiveness of African products, positioning the continent as a significant exporter of value-added and manufactured goods. These are critical building blocks for expanding Africa’s export footprint and driving the continent’s economic transformation”

Mr. Stewart Makura, Chief Executive Officer of ATDC, said “realising Africa’s full trade potential requires reliable systems that connect producers, processors, manufacturers and markets. This facility strengthens ATDC’s ability to aggregate supply, mobilise working capital and move goods efficiently across value chains. 

Together with Afreximbank, we will support stronger supply chains, value addition, import substitution and intra-African trade.”

Beyond financing individual transactions, the facility will help ATDC develop repeatable trade corridors and expand access to dependable sourcing and distribution networks across African markets. It will support commercially sustainable trade flows, greater processing of African commodities and increased regional availability of raw materials, inputs and value-added products.