President Bola Tinubu has called on African countries to end their long-standing dependence on exporting raw cocoa beans and focus on value addition to increase earnings from the global chocolate industry. Tinubu made the call on Tuesday at the Africa Cocoa Summit in Abuja, themed ‘From Bean to Brand,’ where stakeholders discussed strategies for strengthening…
Eastern Africa recorded exceptionally strong growth in exports in 2025, with the UN Economic Commission (UNECA) estimating that total regional exports have increased by approximately 14.5 per cent in 2025. Excluding the region’s largest single exporter – the DR Congo – export growth is even stronger at around 19 per cent, UNECA’s latest sub-regional report…
SHENZHEN, CHINA – MAY 1: The Chinese national flag is seen in front of stacked shipping containers bearing MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), Maersk, and Hamburg Süd branding at Yantian Port on May 1, 2026, in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. Cheng Xin | Getty Images News | Getty Images China’s trade growth held up better than…
The oil market might face a new reality after the Iran war in which exports through the Strait of Hormuz do not return to the levels once considered normal, as shipowners now have to weigh the risk that fighting could abruptly break out in the volatile Persian Gulf. And Western commercial ships will likely hesitate…
Ukraine has succeeded in depriving Russia of much of the windfall profits it would have made from oil exports during March and April, as the war in the Gulf sent prices soaring to above $100 a barrel, a series of sources suggest. Ukraine intensified a long-range strike campaign against Russian port and energy infrastructure on…
The Negishi Maru crude oil tanker sails towards JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp.’s Negishi refinery in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Kiyoshi Ota | Bloomberg | Getty Images Japan’s exports climbed 4.2%% from a year ago in February, marking a sharp slowdown after hitting an over-three-year high in January. However, the increase was higher…
Dado Ruvic/Reuters Lithium prices in China surged on Thursday after Zimbabwe suspended raw mineral exports, sparking concerns over supply disruptions, at a time when growing energy storage demand is projected to drive a boom in the market. The most traded lithium carbonate contract on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange jumped 6.07% to C¥178 020 (US$26 043.45) a metric…
Lithium prices in China spiked on Thursday following Zimbabwe’s sudden suspension of raw mineral exports. The move has ignited significant supply chain anxieties at a critical juncture, as the rapidly expanding energy storage sector continues to drive a massive market boom. Read: Samsung launches Galaxy S26 and S26+ with refined design The impact was immediately…
The World Bank has cautioned that the expiration of the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in late 2025 poses a serious threat to African exports, warning that the loss of preferential access to the U.S. market could undermine economic growth in several Sub-Saharan African countries at a time when the region’s recovery…
Shipping container loads dock at Tokyo Bay. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Japan’s exports in October massively beat expectations, government data on Friday showed, as shipments to Europe and Asia saw robust growth. Exports grew 3.6% year on year compared with expectations of a 1.1% growth by economists polled by Reuters. However, growth…
