For years, export growth has occupied a central place in Africa's development strategy. Governments have pursued trade liberalisation, signed bilateral and regional trade agreements, invested in ports and logistics infrastructure, and offered incentives to attract export-oriented industries. The underlying assumption has remained remarkably consistent: stronger exports would generate foreign exchange, attract investment, create jobs and ultimately accelerate economic transformation. Measured by export volumes, that strategy has produced visible gains. The structure of African economies, however, shows a different reality.