The Pan African Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has raised concerns over persistent barriers hindering cross-border trade in spite of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
PAMA President, Mr Mansur Ahmed, disclosed this in a statement to journalists on Sunday in Lagos.
He noted that intra-African trade in manufactured goods remained low, accounting for about 18 per cent of total continental trade.
According to him, this is far below Europe’s 60 per cent, highlighting deep-rooted structural challenges predating AfCFTA.
Ahmed said Africa’s trade architecture, anchored on regional blocs, had yet to enable seamless cross-border trade, with many countries still exporting raw commodities externally.
He said the trend limited regional industrial value chains and weakened Africa’s competitiveness in global manufacturing.
He identified high tariffs and non-tariff barriers, including import bans, quotas and inconsistent standards, as major constraints to intra-African trade.
“Africa’s integration architecture has yet to deliver seamless cross-border trade in manufactured goods.
“Colonial-era trade patterns remain entrenched, with economies exporting raw commodities rather than exchanging value-added products internally.
“Trade across Africa remains complex, costly and inefficient, despite decades of integration efforts and AfCFTA momentum,” he said.
Ahmed also cited inefficient customs procedures as a major bottleneck, noting manual and poorly coordinated processes caused delays, increased costs and unpredictable delivery timelines.
He added that poor transport infrastructure, including weak road networks, congested ports and limited rail systems, further compounded the challenges.
Ahmed said limited connectivity, high trade finance costs, currency volatility and weak implementation of agreements also constrained cross-border trade.
He noted that informal and illicit trade, driven by price disparities and weak enforcement, undermined formal trade channels and reduced government revenues.
According to him, limited regional value chain development remained a critical structural challenge, as many economies operated in isolation.
Ahmed called for coordinated efforts by governments, development institutions and the private sector to address constraints and unlock manufacturing potential.
He recommended adopting digital trade systems, including single-window platforms and automated documentation, to improve customs efficiency and reduce delays.
Ahmed urged governments to eliminate non-tariff barriers and ensure consistent implementation of AfCFTA rules for a transparent trade environment.
He emphasised expanding access to trade finance through institutions such as the African Export-Import Bank and the African Development Bank.
He also advocated increased investment in transport infrastructure and integrated trade corridors to reduce logistics costs and improve connectivity.
Ahmed added that promoting cross-border industrial clusters and aligning national policies would enhance regional value chains and boost competitiveness.
