Africa is home to major corporations operating in oil and gas, telecommunications, banking, mining, manufacturing, retail and financial services.
Some companies operate primarily within their home countries, while others have established subsidiaries across dozens of African markets.
Algeria's Sonatrach and Nigeria's NNPC are among the continent's largest energy businesses. South Africa is home to major banking, retail, telecommunications and industrial groups.
Morocco has developed major phosphate, banking and telecommunications companies, while Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt and other countries host significant regional businesses.
The following 35 corporations are notable for their operational scale, market position, international reach or economic importance.
1. Sonatrach, Algeria
Industry: Oil and gas
Sonatrach is Algeria's state-owned energy company.
Founded in 1963, it operates in oil and gas exploration, production, transportation, refining and related activities.
The company is a major producer and exporter of natural gas.
Sonatrach has consistently appeared among Africa's largest corporations by revenue.
The African Exponent - Africa Measured
2. NNPC Limited, Nigeria
Industry: Oil and gas
NNPC Limited is Nigeria's national petroleum company.
It was incorporated as a limited liability company following reforms introduced through the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
Its activities include oil and gas exploration, production, trading and related operations.
NNPC is one of Africa's largest energy businesses by reported revenue.
3. Eskom, South Africa
Industry: Electricity
Eskom is South Africa's state-owned electricity utility.
It operates major electricity generation assets and transmission infrastructure.
The company supplies electricity to domestic customers and supports regional electricity trading arrangements.
Eskom has undergone restructuring and operational reforms in response to financial and electricity supply challenges.
4. Shoprite Holdings, South Africa
Industry: Retail
Shoprite Holdings is one of Africa's largest food retail groups.
Founded in 1979, it operates supermarket and retail brands including Shoprite and Checkers.
The group has extensive operations in South Africa and selected other African markets.
Its business includes food retail, distribution and related consumer services.
5. Sasol, South Africa
Industry: Energy and chemicals
Sasol is a South African energy and chemicals company.
Founded in 1950, it operates in fuels, chemicals and energy-related industrial activities.
The company is known for its coal-to-liquids and gas-to-liquids technologies.
Its operations extend beyond South Africa into international markets.
6. MTN Group, South Africa
Industry: Telecommunications
MTN Group was founded in 1994.
It operates mobile telecommunications businesses across numerous African markets.
Its services include voice, mobile data, digital services and mobile financial products.
MTN has major operations in countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Uganda.
7. Standard Bank Group, South Africa
Industry: Banking
Standard Bank Group traces its origins to 1862.
It is one of Africa's largest banking groups by assets.
The group provides personal banking, corporate banking, investment banking and wealth-management services.
Its subsidiaries operate across numerous African countries.
8. OCP Group, Morocco
Industry: Phosphates and fertilisers
OCP Group is a Moroccan state-owned phosphate and fertiliser producer.
Its operations include phosphate mining, processing and fertiliser manufacturing.
Morocco holds substantial phosphate rock reserves, and OCP is a major participant in international fertiliser markets.
The group also operates fertiliser distribution and agricultural development activities in African markets.
9. Vodacom Group, South Africa
Industry: Telecommunications
Vodacom Group is headquartered in South Africa.
It provides mobile telecommunications and digital financial services across several African markets.
Its businesses include operations in South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Vodacom is also associated with M-Pesa mobile financial services.
10. Sonangol, Angola
Industry: Oil and gas
Sonangol is Angola's state-owned oil company.
Founded in 1976, it operates in petroleum production, refining, distribution and related activities.
The company has played a major role in Angola's petroleum industry.
Its activities have undergone restructuring as Angola has changed the organisation of its energy sector.
11. Dangote Cement, Nigeria
Industry: Cement manufacturing
Dangote Cement is one of Africa's largest cement producers.
The company is headquartered in Lagos and operates manufacturing facilities in Nigeria and other African countries.
Its operations include cement production, distribution and export activities.
The company is part of the wider Dangote business group.
12. Naspers, South Africa
Industry: Technology and investment
Naspers was founded in South Africa in 1915.
It developed from a publishing business into an international technology investment group.
Its investment history includes a major early investment in China's Tencent.
Naspers is associated with Prosus, an international technology investment company.
13. FirstRand, South Africa
Industry: Banking and financial services
FirstRand is a major South African financial-services group.
Its businesses include First National Bank, Rand Merchant Bank and WesBank.
The group provides personal banking, corporate finance, investment banking and vehicle financing.
Its operations extend into other African markets.
14. Absa Group, South Africa
Industry: Banking
Absa Group is headquartered in Johannesburg.
It provides banking and financial services across multiple African countries.
Its operations include personal banking, business banking, corporate banking and investment services.
The group has an established presence in South Africa and several East and Southern African markets.
15. Sanlam, South Africa
Industry: Insurance and financial services
Sanlam was founded in 1918.
It provides insurance, investment management and other financial services.
The company operates through subsidiaries and partnerships in numerous African markets.
Its business includes life insurance, general insurance and asset management.
16. Old Mutual, South Africa
Industry: Insurance and investment
Old Mutual was founded in 1845.
It is a major African financial-services group with operations in insurance, savings, investments and related services.
The group operates in South Africa and other African countries.
Its corporate history includes major international restructuring and changes in ownership arrangements.
17. Bidvest Group, South Africa
Industry: Diversified services
Bidvest is a South African diversified business group.
Its operations include services, trading, distribution and industrial activities.
The group owns and operates businesses across multiple sectors.
Its subsidiaries serve corporate, industrial and consumer markets.
18. Bidcorp, South Africa
Industry: Foodservice distribution
Bidcorp is an international foodservice distribution company headquartered in South Africa.
It was separated from Bidvest in 2016.
The company supplies food products to restaurants, hotels, catering businesses and other commercial customers.
Its operations extend across several international markets.
19. Sappi, South Africa
Industry: Paper and packaging materials
Sappi is a South African company operating in pulp, paper and related materials.
Its products include dissolving wood pulp, packaging materials and speciality papers.
The group has manufacturing operations in Africa, Europe and North America.
Its business serves industrial and consumer product supply chains.
20. Anglo American Platinum, South Africa
Industry: Mining
Anglo American Platinum, historically known as Amplats, has been one of the world's major platinum group metals producers.
Its operations have included mines and processing facilities in Southern Africa.
Platinum group metals are used in automotive, industrial and other applications.
The company's corporate structure and branding have changed through restructuring and separation processes, so historical figures should not be treated as unchanged current group data.
21. Impala Platinum Holdings, South Africa
Industry: Mining
Impala Platinum Holdings, commonly known as Implats, is a major producer of platinum group metals.
Its operations include mining and processing activities in Southern Africa.
The group produces platinum, palladium, rhodium and other metals.
Its business is connected to international industrial and precious metals markets.
22. Exxaro Resources, South Africa
Industry: Mining and energy
Exxaro Resources is a South African resources company.
It has historically been a major coal producer.
Its operations include mining activities and investments associated with energy and resource development.
The company supplies industrial and energy markets.
23. African Rainbow Minerals, South Africa
Industry: Mining
African Rainbow Minerals is a South African mining company.
Its interests include iron ore, manganese and platinum group metals.
The company was founded by Patrice Motsepe.
Its operations include mining assets and joint ventures with other resources companies.
24. Safaricom, Kenya
Industry: Telecommunications and financial technology
Safaricom is Kenya's largest telecommunications operator by mobile subscriptions.
It launched M-Pesa in 2007, establishing one of Africa's most widely recognised mobile money services.
The company provides mobile connectivity, financial services and enterprise technology products.
Safaricom has also expanded into Ethiopia.
25. Equity Group Holdings, Kenya
Industry: Banking
Equity Group Holdings is a Kenyan financial-services group.
Its operations include banking subsidiaries in East and Central Africa.
The group provides personal banking, business banking, corporate finance and digital financial services.
Equity has developed a substantial regional banking network.
26. KCB Group, Kenya
Industry: Banking
KCB Group is headquartered in Nairobi.
Its banking operations extend across several East African countries.
The group provides personal, business, corporate and investment banking services.
Its history traces back to banking operations established in East Africa during the nineteenth century.
27. East African Breweries, Kenya
Industry: Beverage manufacturing
East African Breweries is a major East African beverage producer headquartered in Nairobi.
The company was established in 1922.
Its brands include Tusker and other beverages distributed in regional markets.
The company has historically been associated with Diageo, with its ownership structure subject to subsequent corporate transactions.
28. Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco
Industry: Banking
Attijariwafa Bank is one of Morocco's largest banking groups.
It operates across North, West and Central Africa.
The bank provides retail banking, corporate finance, international banking and investment services.
Its international expansion has established a substantial African banking network.
29. Banque Centrale Populaire, Morocco
Industry: Banking
Banque Centrale Populaire is a major Moroccan banking group.
It operates through the Banque Populaire network and international subsidiaries.
Its services include retail banking, corporate banking and international financial transactions.
The group has expanded into several African countries.
30. Maroc Telecom, Morocco
Industry: Telecommunications
Maroc Telecom is a major telecommunications company headquartered in Rabat.
Its services include mobile connectivity, fixed-line telecommunications and internet access.
The group has operations in Morocco and several other African markets.
Its international subsidiaries form a substantial part of its regional business.
31. Commercial International Bank, Egypt
Industry: Banking
Commercial International Bank, commonly known as CIB, is one of Egypt's largest private-sector banks.
It provides personal banking, corporate banking and investment-related financial services.
The bank is listed on the Egyptian Exchange.
Its operations serve businesses and individual customers in Egypt.
32. Elsewedy Electric, Egypt
Industry: Electrical equipment and infrastructure
Elsewedy Electric is an Egyptian industrial company.
Its operations include electrical cables, transformers, power equipment and infrastructure development.
The group participates in major electricity and industrial projects.
Its manufacturing and engineering activities extend into international markets.
33. Orascom Construction, Egypt
Industry: Construction and engineering
Orascom Construction is a major engineering and construction business with Egyptian origins.
It participates in infrastructure, industrial and commercial construction projects.
Its operations include activities in Egypt, the Middle East and other international markets.
The company has been involved in large-scale transport, energy and industrial developments.
34. Ethio Telecom, Ethiopia
Industry: Telecommunications
Ethio Telecom is Ethiopia's state-owned telecommunications operator.
Its services include mobile communications, internet connectivity and enterprise telecommunications.
The company has introduced digital financial services through telebirr.
Ethiopia's telecommunications market has undergone reforms allowing additional private-sector participation.
35. Ethiopian Airlines Group, Ethiopia
Industry: Aviation
Ethiopian Airlines Group is headquartered in Addis Ababa.
The airline was established in 1945 and began operations in 1946.
It operates passenger and cargo services connecting African destinations with international markets.
The group also operates aviation-related businesses, including maintenance, training and logistics services.
Which African Countries Host the Largest Corporate Groups?
South Africa is home to many of Africa's major banking, retail, telecommunications, insurance and mining companies.
Algeria, Nigeria and Angola have major petroleum corporations, including Sonatrach, NNPC and Sonangol.
Morocco hosts significant phosphate, banking and telecommunications groups.
Kenya has major regional banking and telecommunications companies, while Egypt has substantial financial, construction and industrial businesses.
Ethiopia hosts large state-owned enterprises in aviation and telecommunications.
