AliExpress Expands Local Payment Options Across Africa

China-based e-commerce giant AliExpress, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, has expanded its local payment options across several African countries, enabling shoppers in Egypt, South Africa, Algeria, Ethiopia, Morocco and Tanzania to complete transactions in their national currencies. This initiative aims to streamline cross-border e-commerce, reduce friction in transactions, and enhance payment security for consumers in these markets.

The move builds on previous integrations of regional payment solutions, such as M-Pesa in Kenya and Opay and Verve card payments in Nigeria. By broadening its payment infrastructure, AliExpress is addressing common challenges in international online shopping, including currency conversion fees and security concerns.

The expansion coincides with AliExpress’s biggest promotional event of the year, running from March 17th to March 26th, offering discounts and coupon deals to shoppers. The ability to pay in local currency is expected to further boost participation.

Over the past year, AliExpress has focused on improving logistics across Africa. Shoppers in South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and Tanzania can now receive cross-border orders within 10 days, significantly reducing previous delivery times. Additionally, the company has launched its first African showroom in Ethiopia, catering to wholesale buyers who can browse products and place orders in person.