In the second quarter of 2026, trade among member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) accounted for 16.5% of the region's overall trade, according to a report published by the BCEAO (Central Bank of the UEMOA) in September 2026. This marks a slight increase from 16% recorded in the second quarter of 2025. The total value of this intra-UEMOA trade reached 1485.7 billion CFA francs, showing an 11.8% growth compared to the same period in 2025. Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal were the leading suppliers within the community, contributing 35.8% and 19.6% of the total intra-UEMOA supply, respectively. Together, these two countries accounted for 55.4% of the region's internal trade. On the demand side, Burkina Faso and Mali were the top destinations, receiving 26% and 18.8% of the trade flows, respectively, for a combined total of 44.8% of all intra-community exchanges. The structure of trade remains heavily influenced by energy products, with oil making up 37.9% of the main goods traded. Construction materials, raw products such as cereals and live animals, and fertilizers and chemicals accounted for 8.8%, 6.9%, and 6.4% respectively. These figures highlight the continued importance of energy and basic goods in the region's economic exchanges. The recent increase in trade comes as the UEMOA moves into a new phase of consolidating its economic integration. Through its strategic plan IMPACT 2030 (2025-2030), the Union aims to accelerate trade and develop regional value chains. In May 2026, the Union held a training session and tests on the electronic certificate of origin (E-CO) in Abidjan, aiming to speed up the digitization of trade procedures and enhance the competitiveness of trade within the region. The goal is to reduce bureaucratic delays and costs while facilitating the movement of goods produced within the UEMOA. These efforts are supported by the development of regional and international transportation corridors, especially around the Abidjan-Lagos and Abidjan-Ouagadougou routes. At a business forum held in March and April 2026, Dioman Cone, the chief of staff of the Minister of Transport of Côte d'Ivoire, emphasized that modernizing and harmonizing the management of these corridors is crucial for smoother trade and sustained economic growth.