Africa is no longer an abstract export opportunity. Through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), the continent is steadily building a more integrated and accessible trading environment. For furniture manufacturers, this shift carries clear and practical implications.
AfCFTA brings together the majority of African Union member states under a single continental trade framework, while TFTA connects the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) into a broader regional free trade arrangement. Together, these agreements are designed to reduce tariffs, harmonise trade rules and simplify cross-border trade.
Understanding the opportunity for South African manufacturers
For South African manufacturers, the scale of opportunity is significant. AfCFTA represents the largest free trade area globally by number of participating countries, creating access to a continental market with meaningful growth potential.
To unpack the practical realities of implementation, SAFI hosted an AfCFTA and TFTA workshop on 26 February 2026 in collaboration with the dtic and SARS. The session was aimed specifically at board and furniture manufacturers seeking to expand into African markets under structured trade agreements. It was a hybrid workshop, where SAFI members could participate in-person or online, for maximum convenience.
The workshop opened with remarks by SAFI CEO, Greg Boulle, who emphasised the importance of moving beyond awareness towards practical participation as continental trade frameworks transition from negotiation into implementation.
Policy context and implementation progress
Tafadzwa Nyanzunda, Director: Forestry Based Industries at the dtic, positioned the discussion within South Africa’s broader trade and industrial policy objectives, highlighting the role of regional value chains in strengthening the forestry and furniture sectors.
Claudia Furriel, Director: African Union Trade Branch at the dtic, provided an update on AfCFTA implementation progress, including the status of verified tariff concession schedules and the expanding rollout of preferential tariff treatment across participating State Parties.
Rendani Maphaha, Assistant Director within the dtic’s SADC Unit, unpacked the TFTA framework and explained its practical implications for trade across 29 participating countries, demonstrating how regional agreements increasingly support continental integration.
Compliance: the key to preferential access
From an operational perspective, Alfred Ramoroka, Manager: Rules of Origin and Trade Agreements at SARS and a World Customs Organisation Origin Accredited Expert, provided practical guidance on rules of origin compliance and certification requirements. His presentation reinforced that preferential access depends not only on tariff availability, but on accurate documentation and demonstrable local value addition.
The workshop confirmed that preferential access under AfCFTA is now operational in several markets. Where tariff concessions are in force, qualifying products may enter participating countries at reduced or zero duty, provided exporters comply fully with rules of origin requirements and correctly complete Certificates of Origin.
This has the potential to improve price competitiveness in markets such as Zambia, Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique.
Preparation remains essential
Access, however, remains conditional on compliance. Proper exporter registration is required before trading under AfCFTA preferences, and tariff reductions do not eliminate all barriers. Standards, certification requirements and customs procedures continue to vary between markets, making preparation and administrative readiness essential.
Africa as a realistic growth market
Africa is increasingly emerging as a practical growth market for South African manufacturers. Geographic proximity, established logistics corridors and growing demand across housing, retail and hospitality sectors present tangible expansion opportunities.
AfCFTA and TFTA now provide the structural framework to support this growth. As implementation advances, the continent is becoming a more predictable and commercially viable trading environment for manufacturers prepared to engage with its regulatory requirements.
