Online Reporter
Business Reporter
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has reported a 25 percent jump in first-quarter net income, driven by expanded lending and tight cost control, as it launched a $10 billion emergency facility to shield member nations from the economic fallout of the Gulf crisis.
Net income rose to $268, 9 million dollars for the three months to March 31, 2026, up from $215, 4 million in the same period a year earlier, the Cairo-based multilateral lender said on Friday. Gross income climbed 11 percent to $874, 1 million.
The bank’s total credit exposure grew 2 percent to $42 billion, supported by average loans and advances of $32 billion – an 8 percent increase year-on-year. Net interest income advanced 24 percent to $510 million, even as benchmark rates declined.
Afreximbank’s cost-to-income ratio remained contained at 19 percent, well inside its strategic ceiling of 30 percent. Return on average equity strengthened to 13 percent from 12 percent, while return on assets rose to 2, 62 percent from 2, 38 percent.
Asset quality stayed robust, with the non-performing loan ratio edging down to 2, 40 percent from 2, 43 percent at the end of 2025 – below industry averages. Shareholders’ funds increased to $8, 8 billion, supported by $268, 9 million of internally generated capital and fresh equity investments.
The bank’s liquidity position remained strong, with cash and equivalents of $5,6 billion representing 14 percent of total assets, above its strategic minimum.
In March, Afreximbank launched a $10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme to help member countries manage spillover effects from the Gulf crisis. The facility aims to support liquidity, stabilise trade and payments, and address supply-side disruptions in energy, tourism, aviation, fertilisers, food and other critical imports.
The lender also gained full continental coverage after South Africa ratified the bank’s Establishment Agreement in February, bringing one of Africa’s largest economies into membership.
Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s senior executive vice-president, said: “Against a backdrop of continued global uncertainty, heightened geopolitical risks and tight financial conditions, the group delivered a resilient first-quarter performance. The growth in net interest income and profitability demonstrates the strength of our operating model.”
The bank’s capital adequacy ratio stood at 23 percent under Basel II rules, in line with its long-term targets. Total assets were $41, 7 billion dollars at quarter-end, down slightly from $42, 3 billion dollars in December 2025, while total liabilities fell to $33, 0 billion from $33, 9 billion.
Afreximbank, rated Baa2 by Moody’s, is a pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade.
