Diamonds. Almost 65 percent of the world diamonds come from Africa, with the main diamond producing countries being Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Sierra Leone.
Gold. Africa provides almost 30 percent of the world’s gold production, with Ghana and South Africa among the top 10 gold producing countries in the world.
Oil. Five countries currently dominate Africa’s upstream oil production: Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt and Angola. Other African oil producers are Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Ghana.
Cocoa. West Africa collectively provides 70percent of the world’s cocoa, Ivory Coast is the top producer of cocoa in Africa, followed by Ghana and other countries, including Nigeria, Cameroon and Sierra Leone.
Coffee. Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia, and that country is still one of the world’s top producers.
Tea. Kenya is one of the preferred destinations for the British tea market. South Africa’s Rooibush tea (also called Redbush) is a popular as a decaffeinated option for tea lovers.
Platinum. More expensive than gold, platinum is one of the rarest elements in the earths crust. Eighty percent of the world’s platinum comes from South Africa. South African platinum is 95 percent pure, making it more desirable than yellow and white gold in some parts of the world.
Coltan (columbite–tantalite). Mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Coltan is used to make capacitors, an essential component of mobile phones. It is also used in laptop computers, cameras and jet engines.
Timber. Popular African timber includes African Hardwood (such as Iroko, also known as African Teak), African Mahogany, and African Blackwood, a rare timber used to create woodwind instruments and fine furniture. Africa’s major timber exporters are Cameroon, Ghana, Gabon, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sugar. The major African sugar-producing nations are Mauritius, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Mozambique. South Africa’s sugar production is expected to increase by 10 percent to 18.6 million metric tons.
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