Asia leads with the world's busiest container ports, handling nearly 6 billion containers in just 13 years

In the past 13 years, Africa's port activity has grown steadily from handling 22.8 million containers in 2010 to 35.8 million in 2022.

Asia's bustling ports outpaced the world, handling nearly 6 billion containers since 2010, and 561 million in 2022.

Source:

UNCTAD

Period:

2010 - 2022
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South Africa leads as Africa’s digitally delivered services exports hit $41.3 billion in 2024, less than 1 percent of the world total
  • Africa exported $41.3 billion in digital services in 2024, less than 1 percent of the world total.
  • South Africa was the continent’s top exporter with $7.05 billion.
  • Morocco ($6.74 billion) and Ghana ($5.18 billion) followed closely.
  • Egypt ($4.03 billion) and Mauritius ($3.53 billion) also ranked among the top five.
  • The top five countries together made up about two-thirds of Africa’s exports.
For every $1 Nigeria earned from exporting digital services between 2005 and 2024, it spent almost $10 on imports
  • Nigeria exported $10.81 billion in digital services between 2005 and 2024.
  • Imports during the same period reached $105.34 billion.
  • The result was a trade deficit of $94.53 billion over 20 years.
  • Exports rose from just $40 million in 2005 to $1.55 billion in 2024.
  • Imports were almost ten times larger than exports, showing a persistent imbalance.
Financial services dominated Nigeria’s $1.5bn digital services exports in 2024
  • Financial services dominate Nigeria’s digitally delivered exports, contributing $1.15bn (over 74%).
  • Telecommunications ($184m) and insurance & pension services ($147m) follow, though far smaller.
  • Computer, information, and IP services registered almost no exports, highlighting untapped digital potential.
  • Nigeria’s digital exports remain highly concentrated in finance, leaving other sub-sectors underdeveloped.
Despite Trump tariffs, US imports from Africa surged 24% to $23.4B in H1 2025
  • US imports from Africa grew 23.9% year-on-year to $23.4 billion in H1 2025.
  • South Africa drove much of the growth, with exports surging 52.2% to $9.5 billion.
  • Nigeria recorded a 12.1% decline in exports to the US, falling to $2.8 billion.
  • Algeria also posted a contraction, with exports dropping 13.5% to $1.1 billion.
  • Egypt’s exports increased 14.8%.
  • Other African countries collectively expanded exports by 23.5% to $8.6 billion.
  • Africa’s trade growth with the US continues despite tariff barriers, showing resilience.
US trade deficit with South Africa nearly doubled to $6.3 billion in H1 2025
  • US imports from Africa jumped 24% to $23.4 billion in H1 2025 despite tariffs.
  • Egypt led gains, doubling its surplus with the US to $2.73 billion.
  • Nigeria swung into a $576 million surplus, reversing last year’s deficit.
  • South Africa’s deficit with the US nearly doubled to $6.32 billion, dragging the overall balance.
US trade deficit with South Africa nearly doubled to $6.3 billion in H1 2025
  • US imports from Africa jumped 24% to $23.4 billion in H1 2025 despite tariffs.
  • Egypt led gains, doubling its surplus with the US to $2.73 billion.
  • Nigeria swung into a $576 million surplus, reversing last year’s deficit.
  • South Africa’s deficit with the US nearly doubled to $6.32 billion, dragging the overall balance.
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