The East African Community recorded a trade surplus of $300 million in the second quarter of 2026, according to ecofinagency.com. Total trade for the regional bloc during the period reached $52.3 billion, the outlet reported.
China remained the EAC's largest trading partner, according to China Daily Global Edition. The Tanzania Times reported that China is the biggest importer of goods from the East African bloc.
Minerals accounted for 61.9 percent of the EAC's exports in the quarter, according to uchumi360.com. That figure indicates the region's export earnings remain heavily concentrated in raw materials.
The surplus figure was carried by several outlets, including beninwebtv.com, which reported the same $52.3 billion trade volume and $300 million surplus. The reports did not break down the surplus by member state or by individual commodity.
The East African Community is a regional intergovernmental organization whose members coordinate on trade and customs matters. Its trade performance is closely tied to demand from major partners such as China, particularly for mineral exports.
What to watch next: whether the EAC sustains a surplus in coming quarters, and whether mineral exports continue to dominate the bloc's export mix at similar levels.