4. Intra-African CTA Trade Remains Below Its Potential
Despite strong political commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), intra-African trade in cotton, textiles, and apparel (CTA) continues to fall well short of its potential. Recent analysis of AfCFTA implementation challenges in the textile and apparel value chain shows that while policy frameworks are advancing, practical trade integration remains limited.
The report highlights that most African CTA producers still rely heavily on extra-continental markets for both inputs and finished goods. Raw cotton is frequently exported outside the continent for processing, while finished apparel is imported back into African markets. This pattern reflects long-standing structural constraints rather than a lack of demand for regional trade.
Key barriers identified include high transport and logistics costs, inconsistent customs procedures, limited availability of regionally sourced inputs, and weak coordination between countries at different stages of the CTA value chain. Even where tariff reductions exist under AfCFTA, non-tariff barriers continue to undermine competitiveness and discourage cross-border sourcing.
The analysis also points to fragmented industrial development across the continent. Cotton production, textile processing, and garment manufacturing are often geographically disconnected, making it difficult to build efficient regional value chains. As a result, firms frequently find it easier to trade with partners outside Africa than to source or sell within neighbouring markets.
While AfCFTA presents clear long-term opportunities for CTA industrialisation, the report suggests that policy alignment alone is insufficient. Effective implementation will require targeted investments in infrastructure, harmonisation of standards, and deliberate support for regional value-chain integration. Without these measures, intra-African CTA trade is likely to remain constrained, limiting the continent’s ability to retain value and create industrial employment.
TheSE findings underscore a critical gap between AfCFTA’s ambition and on-the-ground realities. Closing this gap will be essential if Africa is to move from exporting raw materials to building competitive, regionally integrated CTA industries that can serve both African and global markets.