Latvia-Africa trade grew 52% in five years, according to Foreign Minister Baiba Braze's remarks at the Latvia-Africa Forum in May 2025. Latvia exports roughly €737M per year to Africa, representing 3.9% of total exports. Most of that flows to Southern Africa.
This article maps every Latvian company with a confirmed operational presence in SADC countries. Not aspirational MoUs or conference handshakes. Actual business on the ground.
MikroTik — Networking Equipment
The biggest Latvian brand in Africa by far. MikroTik routers and wireless equipment are sold through distributors across the continent. In South Africa alone, cumulative Latvian telecom equipment exports (HS 8517) exceed €130M since 2010 according to Eurostat COMEXT data, with MikroTik accounting for the bulk.
South African distributors include MiRO Distribution, Switchcom, and Even Flow Distribution. MikroTik's price-to-performance ratio makes it the default choice for ISPs and WISPs across the continent.
SADC presence: South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Madagascar, Mauritius, DRC, Malawi, Angola, Eswatini, Lesotho
Source: mikrotik.com/buy/africa
SAF Tehnika — Microwave Data Transmission
Riga-based manufacturer of point-to-point microwave radios. Listed on Nasdaq Riga. SAF Tehnika's Integra and Spectrum Compact products are deployed by telecom operators in 130+ countries, with a dedicated Africa sales team.
Their equipment handles wireless backhaul for mobile networks and ISPs where fibre hasn't arrived yet, which describes most of rural Southern Africa.
SADC presence: South Africa and multiple SADC markets through telecom operator deployments
Source: saftehnika.com; Treasures of Latvia directory
Latvijas Finieris — Birch Plywood (Riga Wood)
Europe's largest birch plywood manufacturer. Exports to 50+ countries under the Riga Wood brand. In 2024, the company sold 309,000 m³ of plywood, a company record.
Cumulative wood product exports (HS 44) from Latvia to SADC exceed €22M since 2010, with South Africa as the primary destination.
SADC presence: South Africa, with distribution reaching broader SADC construction markets
Source: Wikipedia — Latvijas Finieris; Eurostat COMEXT trade data
LATRAPS — Grain Cooperative
Latvia's largest farmer-owned cooperative. €254M turnover. Ships wheat by Panamax vessel from Riga port. Listed bonds on Nasdaq Baltic in March 2025 to fund expansion.
Africa is described as a "main market" in their Nasdaq Baltic bond prospectus. Wheat exports (HS 1001) from Latvia to South Africa, Mozambique, and Madagascar total €668M cumulative since 2010.
SADC presence: South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar
Source: LSM.lv; Nasdaq Baltic bond listing
Grindeks — Pharmaceuticals
The largest pharmaceutical company in the Baltics. WHO-prequalified manufacturer of injectable medicines, including anaesthetics and cardiovascular drugs.
Grindeks products reach Tanzania and Zimbabwe through UNFPA and UNICEF procurement channels. The WHO prequalification is the key: it unlocks UN agency purchasing, which is the primary pharmaceutical distribution channel in lower-income SADC markets.
SADC presence: Tanzania, Zimbabwe (via UN procurement)
Source: PR Newswire — Grindeks WHO prequalification; grindeks.eu
Dobeles Dzirnavnieks — Pasta & Flour
The largest pasta producer in Northern Europe. Based in the town of Dobele, Latvia. Exports pasta and flour products to South Africa, where volumes grew large enough that ITAC (International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa) launched an anti-dumping investigation in 2020. SARS imposed provisional anti-dumping duties in April 2021.
Cumulative Latvian cereal preparation and pasta exports (HS 1902) to South Africa exceed €45M. When a country's customs authority opens a dumping case against you, that is proof of serious market penetration.
SADC presence: South Africa
Source: LSM.lv — Dobeles Dzirnavnieks anti-dumping case
Laflora — Peat Products
One of Latvia's leading peat producers. Exports peat-based growing media (HS 2703) for horticulture and agriculture. Latvia's peat exports to SADC countries total several million euros, with South Africa as the primary market.
Professional growers and nurseries in South Africa use Latvian peat substrates for seedling production and greenhouse cultivation.
SADC presence: South Africa
Source: laflora.lv; Eurostat COMEXT
Primekss — Industrial Flooring
Latvian construction technology company specializing in jointless concrete flooring (Primekss PrimeComposite technology). Active in 30+ countries.
Primekss has completed industrial flooring projects in South Africa, serving logistics centres and manufacturing facilities that require large-area seamless concrete floors.
SADC presence: South Africa
Source: primekss.com
Evolution — Live Casino Technology
Riga is one of Evolution's largest studio locations globally, employing thousands of live casino dealers and tech staff. While Evolution is Swedish-headquartered, its Latvian operations represent a significant share of the technology and content delivered to South African licensed online casinos.
SADC presence: South Africa (licensed operators receive Riga-produced content)
Source: evolution.com
Growing Presence
flex.bi — Business Intelligence
Latvian BI platform built on top of Jira, offering data visualization and reporting. flex.bi has clients across Africa and participated in the Latvia-Africa Forum 2025 meetings with the Zimbabwe parliamentary delegation.
Source: flex.bi; MFA Latvia — Latvia-Africa Forum 2025
AdvanGrid — IoT Energy Monitoring
Latvian IoT company developing energy monitoring solutions. Met with the Zimbabwe delegation at the Latvia-Africa Forum 2025, organized by the Latvian IT Cluster. Their grid monitoring technology fits Zimbabwe's power infrastructure modernization needs.
Source: MFA Latvia — Latvia-Africa Forum 2025
Reverse Investment: CreamFinance / Capitec
The relationship runs both ways. In 2017, South Africa's Capitec Bank acquired a 40% stake in Latvia's CreamFinance (now Eleving Group) for €21M. This was the largest single African investment into a Latvian company at the time.
Eleving Group (Nasdaq Baltic: EVG) now operates consumer finance across 16 countries including multiple African markets. Capitec's investment was an early signal that South African financial institutions see the Baltics as a source of fintech innovation.
Source: Eleving Group investor relations; Nasdaq Baltic
Institutional Framework
Several institutional mechanisms support this commercial relationship:
- Latvia-Africa Forum — Organized by Latvia's MFA. The 2024 edition drew 18 countries and 100+ participants. The 2025 forum focused on digitalization with IT sector meetings.
- LIAA (Investment and Development Agency of Latvia) — Funds export missions and trade delegations to African markets.
- EU-SADC EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) — Provides preferential tariff access for Latvian goods entering SADC markets.
- SME Aisle — EU-funded B2B platform connecting European SMEs with African partners. Latvia is an active participant.
- OECD DAC — Latvia joined the OECD Development Assistance Committee in March 2025, opening systematic development cooperation funding channels to Africa.
Sources
- Eurostat COMEXT bilateral trade database (DS-045409)
- Latvia's Central Statistical Bureau (CSB)
- MFA Latvia — Latvia-Africa Forum 2024, 2025 coverage
- LSM.lv (Latvian Public Broadcasting English service)
- Nasdaq Baltic — LATRAPS bond prospectus, Eleving Group filings
- PR Newswire — Grindeks WHO prequalification announcements
- MikroTik distributor directory: mikrotik.com/buy/africa
- Wikipedia — Latvijas Finieris
- Individual company websites as cited above