The Buzz: Africa’s Growing Supply Chain Influence

From the chocolate in your Halloween candy to the critical minerals powering electric vehicles, Africa plays an essential role in global supply chains. But as new technologies, infrastructure investments, and manufacturing opportunities emerge, the continent is moving beyond supplying raw materials to creating greater value and driving innovation.

In this episode of The Buzz, powered by Altium, Yaseen Ahmid and Michael J. Olivier bring a South African perspective to some of the biggest developments shaping global supply chains. They explore why Africa matters to businesses worldwide, from fluctuating cocoa prices in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire to the rise of lab-grown chocolate and its potential impact on African farmers. The conversation also examines Zipline's expanding medical drone delivery network, Morocco's growing automotive manufacturing industry, and investments in the Lobito Corridor connecting Central Africa's critical minerals to global markets. Along the way, Yaseen and Michael discuss AI adoption, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and the importance of building infrastructure and industries that allow African economies to capture more value from their resources and innovations.

Key Takeaways:

• Africa's strategic importance: Discover why the continent's critical minerals, agricultural exports, growing population, and entrepreneurial talent make it increasingly important to global supply chains.
• Cocoa prices and supply chain challenges: Understand how production disruptions, commodity price fluctuations, and purchasing contracts influence chocolate prices, even when raw material costs decline.
• Innovation in healthcare logistics: Explore how Zipline's drone delivery network is expanding access to medical supplies in Côte d'Ivoire and demonstrating new approaches to last-mile delivery.
• Morocco's automotive manufacturing growth: Learn how proximity to Europe, infrastructure development, and nearshoring opportunities are positioning Morocco as a major automotive production hub.
• Critical minerals and transportation infrastructure: Examine how investments in the Lobito Corridor could improve the movement of copper and cobalt while strengthening regional trade.
• Building Africa's innovation ecosystem: Hear why financing, talent development, AI governance, entrepreneurship, and local value creation are essential to the continent's economic future.

Africa's influence on global supply chains extends far beyond its natural resources. For supply chain leaders, manufacturers, investors, and innovators, understanding the continent's evolving role is becoming increasingly important. Tune in for a fresh perspective on the opportunities, challenges, and innovations shaping Africa's future and what they mean for global trade, resilience, and economic growth.

Additional Links & Resources: 

• Altium Develop: https://bit.ly/Try-Altium-Develop
• With That Said: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ready-change-supply-chain-now-kwkve
• The New Scarcity Economy: An African Lens on UNGA 81: https://www.undp.org/africa/blog/new-scarcity-economy-african-lens-unga-81
• Cocoa Crashed This Year. So Why Is Your Halloween Candy Still This Pricey? https://www.benzinga.com/Opinion/26/09/61631494/cocoa-crashed-this-year-so-why-is-your-halloween-candy-still-this-pricey
• Zipline inks Côte d’Ivoire deal to expand drone delivery: https://www.semafor.com/article/09/22/2026/zipline-inks-eight-year-cte-divoire-deal-to-expand-drone-delivery
• Why WhatsApp Is the Operating System of African Businesses: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-whatsapp-operating-system-african-businesses-khamisi-hamisi-sxsyf/
• Morocco’s Automotive Exports Rise 14.5% to MAD 116 Billion by August: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/10/340562/moroccos-automotive-exports-rise-14-5-to-mad-116-billion-by-august/
• Lobito corridor to double minerals cargo after $300 million draw: https://www.mining.com/web/lobito-corridor-to-double-minerals-cargo-after-300-million-draw
• Mombasa Port Exports Hit New Monthly Record: https://kenyanwallstreet.com/mombasa-port-july-2026
• Aliko Dangote's refinery lifts Nigeria's petrol exports sixfold to $750 million: https://www.billionaires.africa/2026/09/25/aliko-dangotes-refinery-lifts-nigerias-petrol-exports-sixfold-to-750-million/
• Ethiopia Coffee Exports Hit Record US$3bn as Government Targets US$6bn by 2031: https://furtherafrica.com/2026/07/01/ethiopia-coffee-exports-hit-record-us3bn-as-government-targets-us6bn-by-2031/
• A hidden pipeline brings Amazon and Walmart to African shoppers: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/hidden-pipeline-brings-amazon-walmart-african-shoppers-2026-07-14/
• Connect with Yaseen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaseen-ahmid/
• Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljolivier/
• Altium Agile Teams: https://www.altium.com/agile/teams
• Upcoming Live Programming:  https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/
• Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/
• Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now  
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• Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
• Learn more about Blue Yonder Cognitive Solutions: http://blueyonder.com/cognitive
• Learn more about M.F.G.inc’s Frontline Leadership Certificate: MFG.inc/training 
• WEBINAR- Detect, decide, deliver: improving disruption response across the supply chain: https://bit.ly/4rXhmiI
• WEBINAR- Planning Your 2027 AI Strategy: 5 Research-Backed Best Practices: https://bit.ly/4z1LM5r
• WEBINAR- Merck Animal Health's Journey to Rewiring Planning for Reliability, Agility and Trust: https://bit.ly/4B6Iq3f

This episode was hosted by Yaseen Ahmid and Michael Olivier, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated episode page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-africa-growing-supply-chain-influence-1654

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