Champions of Green Industrialization in Africa
Overview
Last update: May 2025
The information presented in this Overview is based on companies identified by the “Observatoire Europe-Afrique 2030” as “Champions of Green Industrialization in Africa”, i.e. companies with manufacturing activity in a green sector on African soil.
This Overview is not exhaustive. Week after week, it is enriched by the identification of new companies.
The analysis presented here provides a snapshot of the African manufacturing green industries. Nevertheless, under no circumstances should it be considered statistically significant.
The Observatory has identified 73 “Champions”, spread across 10 green sectors. With 21 companies, the Solar energy sector is the most represented.
These companies belong to 16 different countries. Three groups can be distinguished:
– South Africa, accounts for 19% of the total number of companies.
– Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia: Each represents around 10% to 12% of the Champions.
– Algeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Lesotho, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia: Each of these countries accounts for between 3% and 5% of the Champions.
The 39 other countries on the African continent are not included (for the moment).
Cross-referencing “Country” and “Sector” reveals strong sectoral specificities in certain countries.
Sub-Saharan African countries have a low presence in technologically complex sectors such as wind turbine, railway equipment, electric vehicles and bicycles.
Central African countries are well represented in the electric two-wheeler manufacturing sector.
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 80% of the companies listed in the ecological stoves sector, often a craft industry.
North African companies are present in all the sectors, with the exception of ecological stoves.
South Africa has a strong presence in sectors with a high degree of technological complexity.
Companies with predominantly domestic capital are the most numerous (73%), while subsidiaries of foreign groups account for 23% of the companies. Among subsidiaries of foreign groups, the breakdown of parent companies by country is as follows: China (5 companies), France (4 companies), USA (3 companies), Germany (3 companies), The Netherlands (1 company), Sweden (1 company), Italy (1 company).
Two companies have sales in excess of $100 million. Overall, 2/3 of the companies surveyed have sales of under $10 million.
Note: The above chart covers a total of 36 companies. The 37 other Champions are not taken into account because their turnover in the specific activity of a given green sector is not available.
During the 2011/2020 period, many creations of new “green” manufacturing activities occured, particularly in the manufacture of solar panels, bicycles and waste treatment equipment. Since 2020, the number of start-ups has slowed, with the exception of the electric vehicles.
