African Export-Import Bank has launched the second edition of Foundations and Evolution of Structured Trade Finance, a landmark publication on a specialised field of trade finance shaped by decades of

real-world application.

The book which is authored by Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the

Board of Directors of Afreximbank and a pivotal figure in the

development of Structured Trade Finance (STF), was launched at Afreximbank’s 32 annual meetings in Abuja. The book provides a practical, step-by-step guide to structuring trade finance transactions. It delves into real-world case studies, explores risks and the theoretical foundations of STF, and broadens its scope beyond

commodities to address a wide range of trade scenarios.

The updated edition introduces dedicated chapters on reserve-based

lending, supply chain finance, and the use of emerging technologies in

structured trade finance. These additions make the book particularly

relevant in today’s complex and increasingly risk-sensitive global

regulatory environment.

Speaking at the book launch and signing event held during the 32nd

Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja, Nigeria, Professor Oramah

reflected on the significant progress made in trade finance since the

early 1990s.

“When I joined Afreximbank in 1994 the world was still grappling with

a severe sovereign debt crisis, and structured trade finance was just

beginning to emerge as a tool for financing trade in challenging

markets.

“As Afreximbank began operations in 1994, we embraced structured trade

finance for its ability to mitigate risk. At its core, structured trade

finance enables practitioners to be innovative, as its fundamental

principle allows for the transfer of risks from parties who are less

able to bear them to those who are more capable of absorbing shocks,”

Professor Oramah said.

The first edition of the book highlighted trade finance structures that

largely supported North-South trade—an approach that contributed to

trade diversion, with businesses often favouring extra-African over

intra-African trade due to more accessible financing.

Today, global trade dynamics have shifted dramatically. South-South

trade now dominates, with Africa’s trade with other developing

countries rising from approximately 23% of its total trade in 1995 to an

estimated 68% in 2024. Over the same period, Africa’s trade with

advanced economies has declined to less than 50%.

Structured Trade Finance has played a transformative role in reversing

Africa’s trend of de-industrialisation. By extending beyond

commodity-based structures, STF has supported the emergence of African

manufacturing hubs, fostered regional and domestic value chains, and

enabled the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. Afreximbank

continues to build the continent’s economic future on this foundation

of innovation and resilience.