Africa-Caribbean Trade Corridor Could Unlock $1.65 Billion in Annual Commerce by 2030, Report Finds

## Africa-Caribbean Trade Corridor Poised for Significant Growth Annual trade in goods and services between Africa and the Caribbean could reach up to **$1.65 billion by 2030**, according to a new report jointly published by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Afreximbank. The findings, released on November 3, 2026, in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, highlight a substantial and largely unrealised commercial opportunity between the two regions. The report identifies that approximately **80% of Africa's annual goods export potential to the Caribbean remains untapped**, pointing to significant headroom for growth in bilateral trade flows. While the full breakdown of commodity categories was not disclosed in the summary release, the figures encompass both goods and services trade across the two regions. ### Maritime Implications For the maritime industry, the projected expansion of Africa-Caribbean trade carries meaningful implications for shipping routes, port infrastructure investment, and vessel deployment strategies. Increased bilateral commerce between the two regions would likely require the development or enhancement of direct shipping services, reducing reliance on transshipment hubs in Europe and North America that currently handle much of this cargo. Caribbean and West African port operators may find new impetus to invest in terminal capacity and logistics connectivity as trade volumes grow. Shipping lines serving both regions could also explore new direct service corridors to capture emerging cargo flows in agricultural products, manufactured goods, and services-related freight. ### Institutional Backing The ITC, a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, partnered with Afreximbank — the African Export-Import Bank — to produce the analysis. The report was presented at a high-level forum in Antigua and Barbuda, underscoring the diplomatic momentum behind strengthening South-South trade ties. Afreximbank has been an active proponent of expanding intra-African and Africa-diaspora trade, and this report aligns with broader initiatives under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to boost the continent's global trade competitiveness. ### Outlook With the 2030 target less than four years away, stakeholders across shipping, logistics, and port development will be watching closely to see whether the necessary trade facilitation measures, financing mechanisms, and transport infrastructure can be mobilised in time to realise the corridor's full potential. *Source: PR Newswire / International Trade Centre (ITC) and Afreximbank joint report, November 3, 2026.*