The B&M Diamond Cluster
Background
Africa dominates the diamond industry, accounting for 54 percent of global production and more than 60 percent of world reserves. There are 18 diamond-producing countries in Africa out of 28 worldwide.
Southern Africa is the continent’s leading sub-regional producer, followed by Central, West and East Africa respectively. Botswana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa) have long been the world’s largest producers of gem and industrial diamonds respectively.
The top ten diamond producers in Africa (Botswana, Congo-Kinshasa, South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Côte d’Ivoire, in descending order) have an average GDP per capita of $4,350.
However, diamond production has long been at the center of considerable instability and conflict in Africa, with Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo-Kinshasa, Liberia and the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) long noted for “blood diamond” production.
Of the top 10 diamond-producing countries, three (Congo-Kinshasa, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire) are mired in ongoing political instability, often threatening access to diamond mines and production.
About the B&M Diamond Cluster
The B&M Diamond Cluster is a highly specialized research group of B&M analysts that provides clients with timely analysis on political, economic, security and social developments affecting the production and supply of diamonds (by all 18 producing countries), and forecasts the impact of these developments on a client’s bottom-line.
The Applications for Business and Investment
Diamond Cluster analysts help clients incorporate political risk management into their plans for business in Africa, especially at the point of entry and expansion.
Our flexible research model and pioneering AfriRisk Index©, the first comparative country risk index modeled to distinctively monitor, measure, and forecast political, economic, social, and security risks unique to Africa, can be adapted to track categories of risks prevalent in the diamond sector in Africa and pertinent to a client’s investment plans, including the risk of diamond mine expropriation.
For more information, please contact the Diamond Cluster directly at diamonds@bmconsultancy.net
Diamond Cluster Analysts
Our analysts are experts on the diamond industry as well as on general African politics, history and business, possessing the requisite multinational language skills.
They monitor all developments affecting the diamond sector in Africa, including those occurring within and outside of the continent.
The cluster is supported by field research analysts and on-the-ground monitors based in several diamond-producing countries, strategically positioned to help our clients navigate and manage the day-to-day political, security and social risks of doing business on the ground in Africa.
The Space
The Diamond Cluster conducts its research on a continental, sub-regional, national, state, provincial, municipal and industry level.
It covers all 18 countries individually and collectively as members of various diamond producers’ unions, including the African Diamonds Producers Association (ADPA).
Diamond Cluster analysts work in close collaboration with B&M’s regional and geographic research groups to provide clients with insightful comparative analysis of the diamond sector across multiple regions.
Commodities Covered
Diamonds
Coverage Area (18 Countries)
Angola
Botswana
Cameroon
Central African Republic (CAR)
Côte d’Ivoire
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa)
Gabon
Ghana
Guinea
Liberia
Namibia
Nigeria
Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Tanzania
Togo
Zimbabwe
Common Research Topics
The impact of global diamond price fluctuations on political and economic stability especially in countries highly dependent on diamond export revenue (i.e. Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic).
Economic and political volatility in highly unstable diamond-producing countries like Congo-Kinshasa, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire. The likelihood of contagion from ongoing instability in such countries.
The impact of depleting diamond production on stability in several countries, including Congo-Kinshasa, South Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Togo.
For more information, please contact the Diamond Cluster directly at diamonds@bmconsultancy.net |
