Africa Trade Gateway Completes $5.3m Southern Africa Energy Trade

A US$5.3 million cross-border gasoil transaction has been completed through the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), marking the digital trade platform’s first recorded energy-sector deal in Southern Africa.
The transaction involved Zimbabwean fuel importer Witeva Trading, which sourced a gasoil shipment from a Swiss-based commodity trader and supplier. Innbucks Microbank acted as the local issuing financial institution, while Afreximbank provided confirmation support under the agreed trade-finance structure.

The deal highlights the growing role of digital infrastructure in reducing friction across Africa’s fragmented trade and energy markets, particularly where access to trusted counterparties and trade finance can determine whether a transaction proceeds.

Through the ATG ecosystem, the commercial opportunity was matched with the relevant buyer, supplier and financial institutions, allowing the parties to move from sourcing through to execution within a connected digital environment. The transaction also represents the first completed ATG transaction for Innbucks Microbank, while providing an early test case for the platform’s potential in facilitating energy-sector trade across the region.

Peter Olowononi, Afreximbank’s Director of Regional Operations for Southern Africa, said the transaction demonstrated the value of connecting businesses and financial institutions through a single trade ecosystem. “By creating a digital ecosystem to expand access to trade finance, Afreximbank is enabling more businesses to participate easily in regional and international trade,” he said.

Emeka Onyia, Afreximbank’s Director of Digital Business, said the platform was designed to support the entire trade journey, from identifying commercial opportunities and verifying counterparties to accessing finance and completing transactions.

For the energy sector, where fuel supply chains depend heavily on cross-border financing, logistics and trusted trading relationships, the successful transaction provides a practical demonstration of how digital trade infrastructure could support greater market connectivity.
Afreximbank said each completed transaction strengthens the ATG network, creating greater confidence among participating businesses and financial institutions while opening further opportunities for regional and international trade.