Barbara Bako, Abuja.
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has reported a 24 per cent increase in net income to $813.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, from $654.3 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
The bank, in a statement on Monday said it attributed the growth to increased lending activities, improved interest income and disciplined cost management amid persistent global economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
In its financial results released on Monday, Afreximbank said total assets and contingencies rose by 12 per cent to $54.1 billion, compared with $48.5 billion at the end of 2025.
Net loans and advances also increased by eight per cent to $36.2 billion from $33.5 billion at the end of December 2025, reflecting sustained demand for trade and project financing across its member countries.
Gross income grew by 11 per cent to $2.7 billion during the review period, up from $2.4 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.
Interest income rose by 9.1 per cent to $2.4 billion from $2.2 billion, while net interest income increased by 15 per cent to $1.5 billion.
The bank said average loan balances expanded to $34.8 billion from $28.9 billion in the corresponding period of 2025, supporting earnings growth.
Income from fees and commissions generated by unfunded business activities, including guarantees, letters of credit and advisory services, also increased to $136.9 million from $117.2 million.
Commenting on the performance, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, Mr Denys Denya, said the results demonstrated the bank’s capacity to sustain profitability while advancing 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 said the bank’s expanded lending portfolio, profitability and capital position reflected the effectiveness of its strategy and the growing relevance of its interventions across its target markets.
According to him, Afreximbank remains committed to providing financing, trade facilitation and strategic investments to strengthen regional value chains, support industrialisation and accelerate economic transformation amid global uncertainty.
The bank’s operational efficiency improved during the period, with its cost-to-income ratio declining to 20 per cent from 21 per cent a year earlier, remaining below its strategic ceiling of 30 per cent.
Return on average shareholders’ equity stood at 12 per cent, while return on average assets improved to 2.48 per cent from 2.34 per cent.
However, the non-performing loans ratio edged up to 2.48 per cent from 2.43 per cent at the end of 2025. Provisions for expected credit losses rose to $537.6 million from $481.3 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Afreximbank’s liquid assets stood 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 declined to 22 per cent from 23 per cent over the same period.
Shareholders’ funds increased to $9 billion from $8.4 billion at the end of 2025, supported by internally generated profits and $195.2 million in new equity contributions under the bank’s General Capital Increase programme.
During the period, the bank also raised $1.5 billion through a dual-tranche bond issuance in July, comprising $750 million in 5.5-year notes and another $750 million in 10-year notes.
The issuance was approximately two times oversubscribed, while the bank’s debt securities in issue increased to $4.4 billion from $3.4 billion at the end of 2025.
Afreximbank said it had also 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.
The bank’s high-impact investments increased by 23 per cent to $1.6 billion from $1.3 billion at the end of 2025, supporting projects aimed at advancing industrialisation, trade competitiveness and economic resilience.
Afreximbank is a pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-African and extra-African trade. It also supports the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area through initiatives including the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System and a $10 billion Adjustment Fund.
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