Africa’s aging transport systems are coming under growing pressure as demand for minerals, trade within the continent, and rapid urbanisation continue to surge. A new report by Afreximbank, Transport Industry Outlook 2025, says the strain is already affecting how goods and people move—and warns that without urgent investment, the situation could hold back the continent’s economic ambitions.
With many governments strapped for cash, the report urges development banks, bilateral partners, and private investors to step in and help fund critical infrastructure. From broken roads to outdated rail lines and overcrowded ports, poor transport is pushing up trade costs and making it harder for African economies to grow.
Afreximbank highlights the need to improve both cross-border corridors and local networks, especially to help countries get minerals like iron ore and bauxite from remote mines to coastal ports. The report shows more than half of current transport investments are going into rail projects, with ports and roads also getting attention. West Africa and North Africa are leading the charge, driven by resource exports and efforts to become regional trade hubs.
