Intra-African agricultural trade has reached a new high of $17 billion, finally surpassing its previous peak in 2013, the 2024 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM) has shown. The new report was launched during a hybrid event held in Kigali on August 29. It analyses trade performance amid pressure points like climate change, water use, and carbon emissions. ALSO READ: Africa’s food import bill doubles in seven years It also explores the complex links between trade and climate change, analysing carbon emissions associated with the production and transportation of agricultural products, water content embedded in traded agricultural products, and climate stress-induced yield changes in agriculture. As per the report, the total value of intra-African agricultural trade rose sharply between 2003 to 2013, more than tripling from $5.4 billion to $16.1 billion. The value of trade then declined, before finally rising again in 2022 when it reached $17 billion. ALSO READ: How Africa can feed its growing urban population The report also showed that the composition of intra-African agricultural trade in terms of product groups has experienced moderate changes over time. Cash crops including coffee, tea, sugar, and tobacco are consistently a big deal with an average share of more than 20 percent of intra-African agricultural exports. Agnes Kalibata, the President of AGRA, an organisation that works towards sustainability of African food systems, said that there is “a need for trade that is focused on areas that can deliver value in terms of food and recognise that our environment is only finite.” At the product level, Africa plays a large role in world markets with some of its most traded products including cotton, cocoa, coffee, tea, and tobacco on the exports' side. Cereals, sugar and sugar confectionery, as well as fats and oils are key products on Africa’s imports' side.
