# Barriers to intra-African trade expansion > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/barriers-to-intra-african-trade-expansion > Updated: 2026-10-19T10:31:15.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. Efforts to expand intra-African commerce face significant structural and financial obstacles. While a majority of senior executives expect cross-border activity to grow, merchandise trade remains stagnant at approximately 15% to 18% of total exports. Key impediments include a high cost of capital, with reports suggesting that Western credit rating methodologies impose a “prejudice premium” on African borrowers, costing an estimated $31 billion annually. Additionally, 57% of executives report difficulties accessing trade finance, contributing to an SME financing gap exceeding $331 billion. In regions like Southern Africa, trade is further complicated by inconsistent regulations, customs requirements, and limited supplier visibility. These issues are compounded by logistics bottlenecks, energy shortages, and infrastructure constraints. Furthermore, the expansion of digital transactions is hindered by fragmented payment systems, high costs, foreign exchange challenges, and settlement delays, which particularly impact the cash flow of SMEs in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and energy. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-19: Cross-border payment infrastructure challenges in Africa African businesses face significant hurdles in cross-border trade due to high transaction costs, fragmented payment systems, and regulatory complexities in the digital payment landscape. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cross-border-payment-infrastructure-challenges-in-africa ### 2026-10-07: Structural barriers and credit risks hinder intra-African trade expansion Despite high executive interest in expanding intra-African trade, structural barriers like high credit costs, financing gaps, and regulatory complexities continue to hinder regional integration. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/structural-barriers-and-credit-risks-hinder-intra-african-trade-expansion --- Cite as: Barriers to intra-African trade expansion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/barriers-to-intra-african-trade-expansion