South Africa’s and other leading economies on the continent’s early gains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) reflect the structure of Africa’s economies rather than an imbalance built into the trade pact, according Afcfta secretary-general Wamkele Mene. The country’s exports under the AfCFTA have reached about R2bn since 2024, with shipments largely destined for Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Rwanda, Cameroon and Algeria. The figures have placed South Africa among the countries moving quickly to capitalise on the agreement, supported by its relatively diversified industrial base and established export sectors. Imports from AfCFTA implementing countries including Kenya, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia amounted to about R610m over the same period, pointing to a trade relationship that runs in both directions.Mene, speaking to Business Day on the sidelines of Biashara Africa in Togo, said stronger economies tend to lead in the early years of any free trade agreement. He drew direct comparisons to the formative stages of the EU, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and North American Free Trade Agreement, each of which saw industrialised members generate the first significant trade flows before broader participation deepened across the bloc.“It is expected those countries that have a particular character of a national economy, that have the export base, will be the ones that are first off the block,” Mene said. “We’ve seen this around the world.”“The test will be how we make sure countries benefit regardless of the size of their economy and their export base,” he said. The early export figures may reflect existing capabilities rather than any structural advantage created by the agreement itself. Mene said the broader objective of the AfCFTA is ensuring countries of different sizes and levels of development are eventually able to participate more fully.South Africa's exports under Africa Free Continental Trade Area amounted to roughly R2 billion, mainly to Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Rwanda, Cameroon and Algeria.— Thando Maeko (@HelloThando) May 21, 2026