CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 12, 2026/APO Group/ –As commodity markets enter a new era defined by a rising demand for critical minerals, Mercuria Energy Group is rapidly expanding its global footprint through major acquisitions, strategic joint ventures and infrastructure investments. Against this backdrop, the company will participate as a Bronze Partner at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place in Cape Town from October 12–16, where it will engage African governments, national oil companies and industry leaders on the next generation of energy investment opportunities.

Mercuria’s latest expansion reflects a strategy centered on controlling physical assets alongside its global trading operations. In June 2026, the company signed a marketing agreement and inventory prepayment facility with Lotus Resources. The agreement will support the commercialization of approximately 1.3 million kg of uranium from Malawi’s Kayelekera Mine over 30 months, strengthening the country’s role in global nuclear fuel supply while demonstrating growing investor confidence in African mining assets.

The company is also deepening its presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of the world’s most strategic critical mineral producers. In February, Mercuria completed its first purchases of responsibly sourced copper and cobalt from Enterprise Générale du Cobalt following a strategic agreement to strengthen traceability across artisanal mining supply chains. The partnership supports greater transparency while expanding international market access for Congolese minerals.

Mercuria continues to increase its financial commitment to Africa’s mining sector through large-scale prepayment financing that provides producers with development capital in exchange for long-term supply agreements. This approach is helping miners secure financing outside traditional banking channels while supporting new production across minerals essential to electrification, battery manufacturing and advanced technologies.

The company has also been linked to discussions surrounding the proposed development of Western critical mineral supply chains anchored by the DRC’s Kipushi Mine. By supporting financing structures for copper, zinc and other strategic minerals, Mercuria is reinforcing Africa’s role as a long-term supplier of resources required for global industrial growth and the energy transition.

These investments are supported by a significantly strengthened financial position. Mercuria reported an 88% increase in first-half 2026 profit and subsequently retained earnings to expand its equity base rather than distribute dividends. In June 2026, the company further enhanced its capacity to finance large-scale investments by securing a $3.84 billion multicurrency revolving credit facility, providing additional liquidity to support future projects, including across African markets.

“Access to innovative financing and global commodity markets will be essential to unlocking Africa’s full energy and mining potential,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Mercuria’s growing investment across African critical minerals and resource value chains makes the company a valuable addition to AEW 2026, where industry leaders will shape the partnerships needed to drive the continent’s next phase of growth.”

Mercuria’s participation at AEW 2026 comes as African producers seek greater access to capital, trading expertise and commercial partnerships capable of accelerating resource development. As countries pursue new investment across hydrocarbons, critical minerals and associated infrastructure, the company’s integrated approach to financing, marketing and commodity trading offers a relevant model for unlocking large-scale projects across the continent.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 12, 2026/APO Group/ –South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Standard Bank, MTN, and DHL (www.DHL.com) have announced a series of strategic partnerships aimed at helping SMEs across Sub-Saharan Africa scale their businesses, access new markets and participate more effectively in regional and global trade.

 

Launched under the banner of DHL’s GoTrade, this series of initiatives are aimed at helping African businesses overcome some of the most common barriers to growth, including limited access to finance, export readiness challenges, digital adoption gaps and market access constraints.

Since 2021, GoTrade has launched in more than 50 countries, supporting more than 24,000 SMEs globally, including more than 8,000 women-owned businesses. Across Sub-Saharan Africa specifically, more than 8,000 SMEs have participated in GoTrade programmes and capacity-building initiatives. DHL will be investing 300 million Euro on the African continent by 2030, as part of this investment the company will continue investing programs that extend participation in trade and support sustainable growth.

“Across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), SMEs represent more than 90% of businesses and provide approximately 70% of employment, making them one of the continent’s most important engines of economic opportunity and inclusive growth. Despite their significance, many of our entrepreneurs continue to face barriers related to financing, digital adoption, trade knowledge and market access, limiting their ability to participate fully in regional and global trade.

We are excited to work with our partners to create a collaborative ecosystem aimed at addressing these challenges through practical interventions that support businesses at every stage of their export journey,” said Hennie Heymans, CEO DHL Express SSA.

The partnerships announced bring together complementary expertise from government, financial services, telecommunications and international logistics to create a practical support ecosystem for businesses looking to grow through trade.

The partnership between the dtic and DHL supports the department’s broader objectives around industrialisation, export growth and emerging exporter development. The collaboration will focus on trade education, capacity-building programmes, business clinics, trade missions, corridor activation initiatives and increased awareness of key trade frameworks, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other trade agreements that create new opportunities for African businesses.

“This partnership between the dtic and DHL demonstrates the power of collaboration in advancing trade and economic development,” said Acting Deputy Director-General Willem van der Spuy. “By working together with private-sector partners, we can provide businesses with practical support that enhances competitiveness, drives export participation and enables more emerging exporters (especially SMEs) to benefit from regional and global trade opportunities. Government’s role is to convene the right partners around a common framework, and this initiative reflects exactly that: the dtic setting the direction, with DHL and its partners Standard Bank and MTN strengthening delivery on the ground.”

Through its partnership with DHL, Standard Bank will bring its pan-African footprint, trade-finance expertise and cross-border trade ecosystem to help SMEs access new markets and participate more effectively in regional and global value chains. Standard Bank’s role in the partnership is to help SMEs translate export ambition into bankable, executable trade opportunities by combining finance, advisory support and access to trusted trade networks. In addition to banking and trade-finance solutions, the bank will connect businesses to its Export Readiness Programme, which provides entrepreneurs with the knowledge, advisory support and practical tools needed to compete internationally. First launched in KwaZulu-Natal in 2025, the programme has since expanded to Gauteng and the Western Cape.

Standard Bank’s strategic partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) also enables business matchmaking, trade linkages and market-access opportunities between African and Chinese businesses. In 2025, the bank connected clients from four African markets with Chinese importers across product categories including rooibos tea, coffee, cocoa, nuts and wine, helping to unlock meaningful new export opportunities for African businesses.  Standard Bank’s trade and payments capabilities also help SMEs navigate one of the most complex aspects of international expansion: moving money safely, efficiently and across borders. By combining banking infrastructure with trade expertise and partner networks, the bank is helping African businesses participate in global trade with greater confidence.

“Access to finance alone is not enough. SMEs also need access to buyers, markets, trade knowledge and trusted networks. Through our Export Readiness Programme, our international partnerships and our collaboration with DHL, Standard Bank is helping African businesses build the practical capabilities and connections they need to trade beyond their domestic markets. This partnership strengthens our ability to support SMEs across key trade corridors, including within Africa, and to help them grow with greater confidence,” says Bill Blackie, Chief Executive of Business & Commercial Banking at Standard Bank Group.

Through its collaboration with DHL, MTN will help SMEs digitise and grow their operations by providing digital skills training, access to connectivity and cloud solutions that enable secure data storage, team collaboration, remote working and business scalability, digital payment capabilities, online marketing support. The partnership will also provide SMEs with mentorship opportunities, and guidance on expanding into new markets through exporting.

“Digital transformation is a critical enabler of business growth and competitiveness,” said David Behr, MTN Group Chief Enterprise Business Officer. “By combining MTN’s reach and digital capabilities with DHL’s international trade expertise, we can help SMEs embrace technology, improve business performance and access new opportunities across Africa and beyond.”

Together, the partners aim to create a stronger pipeline of export-ready businesses equipped to compete in increasingly interconnected markets. The collaborative initiatives are expected to support entrepreneurship, job creation and economic inclusion across African markets.

“African SMEs have the ambition and innovation needed to compete globally, but they cannot do it alone. Success in international trade requires access to the right combination of knowledge, finance, technology, policy support and logistics capability. By bringing together the strengths of the public and private sectors, we are creating an ecosystem that will help more businesses become export-ready, connect to international markets and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s economic growth agenda. Our ambition is not only to help SMEs trade more, but to help them grow sustainably, create jobs and unlock new opportunities across the continent,” added Heymans.