Diamonds
Botswana is the world's leading producer of natural diamonds by value, with Namibia's marine deposits, Angola and the DRC forming the rest of Africa's supply.
Key data
- Unit
- carats
- Value
- Pending verification
- As of
- Pending verification
- Value chains
- Pending verification
- Leading African producers
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Angola, Botswana
Leading African producers
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The DRC hosts the highest-grade major copper mines in the world and dominates global cobalt supply, with the Lobito Corridor reshaping how that output reaches international markets.
Namibia
Namibia is a top-tier uranium producer and has become the most closely watched frontier oil province in Africa following Orange Basin discoveries.
Angola
Angola remains a major deepwater producer and, through the Lobito Atlantic Railway concession, is positioning as the Atlantic export route for Central African copper and cobalt.
Botswana
Botswana's economy is anchored on diamond mining through the Debswana partnership between the government and De Beers, with coal resources and a growing copper belt in the Kalahari.
Related infrastructure
Lobito Atlantic Railway
Rail concession linking the Angolan port of Lobito to the Copperbelt in the DRC and Zambia, shortening export routes for copper and cobalt.
Port of Walvis Bay
Namibia's principal port, handling uranium exports and serving as a gateway for regional corridors.
Related commodities
Copper
The core electrification metal. African supply is concentrated in the Central African Copperbelt across the DRC and Zambia.
Crude Oil
Nigeria, Angola, Libya and Algeria remain the largest African producers, with Namibia the most-watched frontier.
Cobalt
Battery cathode input produced largely as a copper by-product in the DRC, which accounts for the majority of world mine supply.
Uranium
Namibia and Niger are the principal African suppliers into the nuclear fuel cycle.
Coal
South African thermal coal and Mozambican coking coal remain significant export earners and power-sector inputs.
Related news
Lobito Corridor volumes become the metric to watch for Copperbelt exports
The Atlantic route shortens transit versus east coast alternatives; realised tonnage will determine its strategic weight.
DRC holds cobalt exports to 96,600 tonnes a year as refining stays in China
The DRC caps cobalt exports at 96,600 tonnes a year, while processing remains concentrated in China, according to Le Point.cd's review after the 23–25 September Trump–Xi meeting.
TotalEnergies completes entry as operator of Namibia's PEL83, holding Mopane
TotalEnergies now holds a 40% operated interest in PEL83 alongside Galp (40%), Namcor (10%) and Custos (10%), after completing its December 2025 transaction with Galp.
Copperbelt growth keeps running into the power question
Expansion plans in Lualaba and North-Western Province depend on firm electricity, placing hydropower rehabilitation and imports at the centre of copper strategy.
Orange Basin appraisal keeps Namibia at the centre of frontier exploration
Appraisal outcomes and development concepts will determine whether discoveries convert into commercial projects.
Related intelligence
- U.S. Geological Survey
Mineral Commodity Summaries
Last verified 26 Aug 2026Verified
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