Market connections across Africa and beyond

Africa is a source of products and a destination for them. Start with what you supply or want to buy, and the market you want to reach.

2023 · WITS / UN COMTRADE

Africa’s position in global product trade

Compare reported exports across eight product categories. Select a row to explore the value and evidence.

Product · HS codeAfrica’s share · 0–100%World exports
CoffeeHS 09017.2%41.43US$ bn

African exports: 2.99 US$ bn

Explore this product →Source · WITS
Cocoa beansHS 18010069.3%8.81US$ bn

African exports: 6.11 US$ bn

Explore this product →Source · WITS
Sesame seedsHS 12074040.6%3.04US$ bn

African exports: 1.23 US$ bn

Explore this product →Source · WITS
TeaHS 090222.2%7.93US$ bn

African exports: 1.76 US$ bn

Explore this product →Source · WITS
VanillaHS 09050059.0%0.53US$ bn

African exports: 0.31 US$ bn

Explore this product →Source · WITS
Frozen fish filletsHS 0304203.6%16.32US$ bn

African exports: 0.59 US$ bn

Explore this product →Source · WITS
AvocadosHS 0804406.7%7.50US$ bn

African exports: 0.50 US$ bn

Explore this product →Source · WITS
Other dried fruitHS 0813403.6%1.30US$ bn

African exports: 0.05 US$ bn

Explore this product →Source · WITS

2023 reported gross exports · rounded values · includes re-exports. Africa’s share of reported exports, not production or Crossgates’ market share.

Sources & calculation

World Bank WITS / UN Comtrade. World total sums reporting economies, excluding the separate EU aggregate. African total sums African reporters. Missing reports are not treated as zero. Shares use unrounded values; full tables and definitions remain on each product page.

Download the eight-product dataset ↓
Explore all agricultural figures →

Trade moves in both directions

Trade moves in both directions.

Africa is a source of products and a destination for them. Crossgates is building connections around the requirements of both sides: suppliers looking for appropriate buyers and buyers looking for suitable supply.

From Africa to international buyers

Start with a product, its origin and a destination. Prepare the commercial information and supporting records that a buyer needs to consider it. The UK is a priority market for our current development; other routes are assessed against product requirements and available delivery capacity.

Into African markets

International suppliers seeking African buyers need the same clarity: the product, destination requirements, commercial counterpart and evidence supporting the offer. Submit a market-entry enquiry so we can assess the route and the support needed.

Within Africa

Regional opportunities also require product clarity, reliable business information and a practical understanding of the destination. An African supplier seeking an African buyer should not have to begin with an overseas export story.

Choose a route, not a generic promise

Each market enquiry begins with origin, destination, product and buyer requirements. Trade arrangements can support access, but do not remove every documentary, quality, logistics or regulatory requirement. We confirm the relevant next steps for the actual route.

I supply products →I need suppliers →

The scale of the markets

These figures cover different periods, geographies and product groups. They are market context, not a combined total or an estimate of Crossgates’ revenue opportunity. Sub-Saharan Africa excludes North Africa; EAC membership is not all geographical East Africa.

Partnerships grounded in a practical pilot

AfCFTA and digital trade

Reusable supplier information can support a practical intra-African pilot. The World Bank’s 2020 model estimated US$450bn in additional African income by 2035 under full AfCFTA implementation. This is modelled potential, not achieved income or funding available to Crossgates.

World Bank modelling · AU Digital Trade Protocol

UK market access

Begin with the product, origin and buyer requirement. DCTS tariff preferences have eligibility and origin conditions; they do not replace product compliance. A useful institutional pilot would measure complete evidence files, buyer use and cost per business.

UK export guidance · FCDO programme context

EU partnerships

Explore country-specific delivery and eligible consortium routes around digital trade and sustainable agrifood. The €150bn Africa–Europe Global Gateway package is broad investment context, not an unallocated startup grant fund. Programme alignment does not imply endorsement or an award.

European Commission package
Discuss an institutional programme →

Sources and definitions

Research checked 20 October 2026. Historical editions and estimates are labelled; linked live publications may be revised.

Sources & calculation
  1. UNCTAD · Key statistics and trends in international trade 2025

    Published 2026; global goods and services trade exceeded US$35tn in 2025.

  2. Afreximbank · African Trade Report 2025

    2024 observations in the 2025 edition; printed pp.10 and 49–51. Africa merchandise imports US$769.01bn and exports US$758.01bn. Historical edition, not a claim to latest revised totals.

  3. European Commission · EU trade with sub-Saharan Africa

    Factsheet dated 20 May 2026; 2025 Eurostat Comext data. PDF pp.2 and 4. EU imports €91.430bn, exports €71.630bn, total €163.060bn; food and live animals imports €26.525bn and exports €10.132bn.

  4. EAC · Q2 2026 trade bulletin announcement

    16 September 2026; April–June 2026 trade: US$52.3bn total, US$26.3bn exports and US$26.0bn imports. EAC coverage, not all geographical East Africa; all goods, not agribusiness alone.

  5. ICCO · Production of cocoa beans

    Quarterly Bulletin Vol. LI No.2, cocoa year 2024/25. Table estimates 2023/24 Africa production at 3.114m tonnes, 71.3% of world production; world 4.368m tonnes. Historical crop-year estimate; not current inventory.

  6. FAO · Trade of agrifood products 2000–2024

    23 December 2025 release. Top two exporters accounted for about 85% of exports for soya beans and palm oil in 2024. Food represented 86% of crop/livestock trade. Coverage excludes fish.

  7. World Bank · AfCFTA income modelling

    27 July 2020 scenario: full implementation could add US$450bn to regional income by 2035; US$292bn attributable to trade-facilitation measures. Modelled potential, not achieved revenue or available funding.

  8. UK Government · Developing Countries Trading Scheme

    Current collection retrieved 20 October 2026 describes 65 developing countries. Eligibility, preference tier, product and origin rules require transaction-specific checking.

  9. UK Government · Exporting to the UK under DCTS

    Official process reference; tariff preference does not replace product compliance or border requirements.

  10. African Union · Digital Trade Protocol

    Adopted 18 February 2024. Adoption is not evidence that every provision is operational in every country.

  11. FCDO · Trade Centre of Expertise

    Programme purpose includes technical assistance on trade barriers and participation in global markets. Alignment is not a grant award or open funding call.

  12. FCDO · UK Trade Partnerships programme

    Programme supports use of preferential trade arrangements through technical assistance and market-access support. Delivery and eligibility must be checked for a specific proposal.

  13. European Commission · Africa–Europe Global Gateway package

    €150bn investment package. Broad policy context, not an unallocated startup grant fund.

  14. European Commission · Global Gateway Investment Hub

    8 October 2025 launch. Entry route described for EU private-sector investment projects; UK incorporation alone does not establish eligibility.

  15. UNCTAD · Economic Development in Africa Report 2024

    Published 10 February 2025. Highlights concentrated trading relationships and recommends lower non-tariff costs and more diverse trade partners.