Africa’s Manufacturing Moment And Why It Keeps Slipping Away

shows a view inside Chinese-invested firm Vitron, in Mlolongo, Kenya. The numbers on paper have never looked better for African manufacturing. The continent holds 18.3% of the world’s population, is projected by the IMF to grow at 4.1% in 2026, outpacing the global average of 3.0% and consistently ranks among the world’s fastest-growing regions.Global supply chains are fracturing.

Companies are scrambling to find alternatives to China. Geopolitical risk has made “cheapest” less important than “closest” and “safest.” The numbers on paper have never looked better for African manufacturing. The continent holds 18.3% of the world’s population, is projected by the IMF to grow at 4.1% in 2026, outpacing the global average of 3.0% and consistently ranks among the world’s fastest-growing regions.

Global supply chains are fracturing. Geopolitical risk has made “cheapest” less important than “closest” and “safest.” And yet. Africa accounts for just 2% of global manufacturing value added and 1.3% of global manufacturing exports.The gap between what Africa should be capturing and what it actually is capturing has not closed.

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In several key metrics, it has widened. Africa accounts for just 2% of global manufacturing value added and 1.3% of global manufacturing exports. The gap between what Africa should be capturing and what it actually is capturing has not closed.

The structural shift in global manufacturing is not theoretical. 82% of manufacturers have moved or are moving factories back toward domestic or near-domestic production. 58% of CEOs with overseas operations are actively considering reshoring.

Only 7% of manufacturers globally are not discussing it at all. 26% of companies surveyed globally planned to nearshore in 2025. In the US that number hit 33%, and in the EU 28%.Inspection demand a reliable early indicator of where production is actually moving surged in Mediterranean sourcing hubs, Morocco up 53% year-on-year in Q2 2025, Egypt up 73%, Tunisia up 35%.North Africa is capturing some of this shift.

Sub-Saharan Africa, largely, is not. In the US that number hit 33%, and in the EU 28%. Inspection demand a reliable early indicator of where production is actually moving surged in Mediterranean sourcing hubs, Morocco up 53% year-on-year in Q2 2025, Egypt up 73%, Tunisia up 35%. North Africa is capturing some of this shift.

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