Exports continue to recover in key frontier markets: Fitch

Goods exports saw a further recovery in several frontier markets in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, despite global uncertainty arising from the imposition of trade tariffs. Larger African countries, in particular, have seen noticeable increases while others have experienced further declines, as highlighted in Fitch Ratings’ latest Frontier Markets Economic Monitor chart pack.

The index comprises countries from sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

The report, previously called ‘Frontier Vision’, shows significant increases in Zambia’s exports through much of last year driven by growth in both traditional copper and non-traditional sectors like agriculture and electricity-linked goods. Countries such as Nigeria, Angola and Gabon have also seen improvements in export growth while others, including Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Rwanda and Morocco have seen moderation with the latter two contracting in terms of annual percentage growth.

Fitch Ratings reports a Q4 recovery in goods exports across several frontier markets despite global trade uncertainty.
Larger African economies like Zambia, Nigeria, Angola and Gabon led gains, while Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Rwanda and Morocco saw slower growth or contraction.
The Frontier Markets Economic Monitor tracks high-frequency data across NEXGEM Index countries.

Fitch’s quarterly Frontier Markets Economic Monitor chart pack tracks high-frequency macroeconomic data for the countries included in the JP Morgan’s Next Generation Markets (NEXGEM) Index. The charts cover five years of historical data, and the choice of data series has been harmonised as far as possible across all countries to facilitate comparisons.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)