South Africa emerged as Ghana’s leading export destination within Africa in the fourth quarter of 2025, accounting for more than half of the country’s exports to the continent.

According to the latest International Trade Statistical Newsletter by the Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana exported goods worth GH?12.1 billion to South Africa during the period, representing 63.8 percent of total exports to Africa.

The report notes that Ghana’s exports to the continent are concentrated among a few key regional partners. Together, the top five African destinations, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo, accounted for over 91 percent of Ghana’s total exports to Africa in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Exports to Burkina Faso were valued at GH?2.5 billion, representing 13.2 percent of Ghana’s exports to the continent, while shipments to Nigeria reached GH?1.0 billion, accounting for 5.4 percent.

Exports to Côte d’Ivoire and Togo stood at GH?0.9 billion and GH?0.8 billion, respectively.
In terms of commodities, gold dominated Ghana’s exports to South Africa, accounting for 94.4 percent of shipments to that market.

Meanwhile, exports to Burkina Faso were driven largely by plastic products as well as iron and steel, which together made up nearly three-quarters of Ghana’s exports to the neighbouring country.

The report also shows that exports to Nigeria were largely mineral fuels and oil products, which made up more than 70 percent of shipments to the West African market. In the case of Togo, exports were mainly iron and steel as well as chemical products, together accounting for more than half of total exports to the country.

Overall, Ghana’s exports to Africa were dominated by gold bullion and crude petroleum, alongside manufactured products such as plastics and iron and steel, highlighting both the country’s reliance on mineral commodities and its growing trade in manufactured goods within the region.

The Ghana Statistical Service notes that the strong concentration of exports among a few regional partners reflects the structure of Ghana’s intra-African trade, as the country continues to expand regional commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.