Buy from Southern and Central Africa: Copper, Cobalt, Chrome, Tobacco, Timber and Gems
Talk to us about this service
Trade, import, logistics, sourcing — whatever you're planning, the fastest way to a quote is a WhatsApp message. Our team replies during Lagos business hours.
WhatsApp usYour message tells us which page you came from
Buy from Southern and Central Africa: the minerals belt and beyond
This is the world’s copper and cobalt belt, with chrome, platinum, emeralds and rubies on top. It is also tightly regulated: several countries sell gold or diamonds only through state channels, ban raw ore exports, or demand conflict-minerals due diligence. Knowing those rules is the difference between a real deal and a costly one.
Country by country
| Country | Worth buying | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | Chrome, tobacco, lithium concentrate, platinum | Gold is sold through Fidelity Gold Refinery; raw lithium ore exports are banned |
| Zambia | Copper, cobalt, emeralds, maize, sugar | One of the world’s main emerald sources; copper ships via Dar es Salaam, Durban or Walvis Bay |
| DR Congo | Copper, cobalt, tin, tantalum (coltan) | Supplies most of the world’s cobalt; conflict-minerals due diligence is essential |
| Angola | Oil, diamonds, coffee, fish | Diamonds are marketed through the state channel |
| Mozambique | Cashew, prawns, coal, graphite, rubies | Home to one of the world’s largest ruby deposits; ports Maputo, Beira, Nacala |
| Malawi | Tobacco, tea, macadamia, sugar | Tobacco sells through auction floors in season |
| Botswana | Diamonds, beef | Diamonds sold through official sales channels only |
| Namibia | Fish (hake), beef, uranium, diamonds | Walvis Bay is a fast route into landlocked neighbours |
| Eswatini & Lesotho | Sugar, citrus, wood pulp (Eswatini); textiles, large diamonds (Lesotho) | Both are in the Southern African Customs Union |
| Gabon | Manganese, timber products, oil | Log exports are banned; buy sawn or processed timber |
| Cameroon | Cocoa, coffee, timber, bananas, rubber | Port: Douala, gateway to Chad and CAR |
| Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, CAR | Oil, timber, potash (Congo); gum arabic and cotton (Chad) | Smaller, specialised volumes; CAR diamonds face Kimberley Process restrictions |
Precious minerals from this region are sold through licensed or state channels, often with Kimberley Process or due-diligence rules. Private offers with an upfront “export fee” are almost always scams. Read our anti-fraud guide.
Tell us what you are looking for
Pick the country, tell us the product and volume, and we will tell you honestly whether it can be sourced and shipped, and at what price.
Your request opens in WhatsApp or your email app, ready to send. Nothing is stored on this page.
Questions buyers ask us
Can I export raw lithium ore from Zimbabwe?
Who buys gold in Zimbabwe?
What is conflict-minerals due diligence?
Our sourcing hubs
Tools
Free commercial invoice generatorFreeImport duty calculator (Nigeria)FreeExport costs calculatorFree
Services
Customs pre-clearance reviewFree zone logisticsPallet storage & warehousingBook a 15-minute consultation
Shop Wigmore Wholesale
Minerals & metallurgyShopMetals & scrapShopAgriculture & raw materialsShop
Buying from Southern or Central Africa?
Tell us the country, product and grade. We check the rules and the seller first.
No Comments Yet.
Comments are closed.