East African Community (EAC) trade reached $52.3 billion in the second quarter of 2026, a 37 percent increase, according to thecitizen.co.tz. The growth was driven largely by mineral exports, which made up 61.9 percent of total exports in the period, Uchumi360 reports.
The bloc recorded a trade surplus of $300 million, according to beninwebtv.com. China remained the EAC's largest trading partner during the quarter, Fibre2Fashion reports.
The figures point to the continued weight of raw materials in the region's export earnings. Mineral shipments alone accounted for well over half of everything the EAC sold abroad in the quarter, per Uchumi360's breakdown of the data.
Africa Business Communities also reported rising EAC exports alongside the broader expansion in regional trade.
The reports draw on the same quarterly trade data but emphasize different angles — the overall surge, the mineral share, the surplus, and China's position as top partner. The Citizen's headline framed the quarter around mineral-driven growth, while Fibre2Fashion led on China's role.
What to watch next: whether the mineral concentration in EAC exports holds through the rest of 2026, and whether the bloc's trade surplus persists in the coming quarters.