UK
Nigeria
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Tchad
RDC
Cote d'ivoire
Gabon
Ghana
Guinea
Kenya
Liberia
Moçambique
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
France
America
Mali
UAE
France
Connecting international capital with the trade, infrastructure and supply chains that support economic activity across Africa.
Africa’s growth depends on the ability of businesses and financial institutions to access capital, finance trade and move goods efficiently across borders.
UBA UK supports this activity by connecting African markets with international liquidity and capital. Through trade finance, working-capital solutions and participation in structured financing, we support transactions across sectors that are fundamental to the real economy.
From essential food supplies to energy infrastructure and industrial raw materials, our financing helps connect African businesses and financial institutions with international markets.
Financing Africa’s Essential Food Trade
Food security depends not only on supply, but on the financial infrastructure that enables essential commodities to move across borders.
In the first half of 2026, UBA UK facilitated the importation of essential agricultural commodities into Nigeria and Burkina Faso, providing more than €43.38 million through trade loans, letters of credit confirmations and related working-capital facilities.
The need extends well beyond individual transactions. The African Development Bank estimates that unmet demand for trade finance in Africa stood at US$74-92 billion in 2024. Access to trade finance directly affects businesses’ ability to import, finance and distribute essential goods.
By working with financial institutions across African markets, UBA UK connects international liquidity with real trade flows, supporting the movement of essential commodities and wider economic activity.
Financing Africa’s Energy Future
Greater domestic energy capacity is increasingly important to energy security and economic resilience across Africa.
Nigeria is developing its domestic refining and gas infrastructure as part of efforts to strengthen energy supply and reduce reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
UBA UK is participating in financial consortia supporting critical energy infrastructure in Nigeria, with aggregate commitments of approximately US$60 million towards projects aimed at expanding refining capacity and developing gas infrastructure.
These financings demonstrate the role international capital can play in supporting productive infrastructure and building greater resilience within African energy markets.
Financing the Materials that Build Africa
Industrial growth depends on access to the raw materials that support manufacturing, construction and infrastructure.
Copper is an important part of these supply chains. Its movement between producers, traders and international markets requires access to both longer-term capital and trade finance.
UBA UK has supported international transactions in copper cathodes, providing financing that facilitates trade across markets and counterparties.
For businesses operating across complex commodity supply chains, reliable financing and cross-border settlement can help manage working-capital requirements and maintain continuity between production, trade and end markets.
Connecting Africa with International Capital
Food, energy and natural resources serve very different markets, but they share a common requirement: access to finance and international banking relationships that allow capital and trade to move effectively.
As a UK-regulated bank with deep connectivity across African markets, UBA UK provides trade finance and financing solutions for financial institutions, corporates and other institutional clients operating across African and international markets.
Financing Africa’s Real Economy brings these activities together, demonstrating how finance can support essential supply, productive capacity and cross-border trade.
Speak to our team about financing trade and investment across African markets.