How has the rise and fall of commodities impacted Africa?

Commodity markets have divided African nations in to two blocks; the importers and the exporters.

Commodity exporting countries such as Nigeria, Ghana and Zambia are entering a phase of economic adjustment due to the fall in export revenues following price slumps in everything from coal and iron ore, to sugar and copper. Meanwhile, commodity importing countries, particularly oil importers such as Egypt, Morocco and Kenya, are gaining some breathing space to boost the reform-driven phase of investments they are undertaking. The uncertainty and high volatility of commodity markets has the potential to tilt the balance of favour between the two blocks. Commodity super-cycle The ec...