The Hidden Weak Link in African Manufacturing: Raw Material Supply

Africa's manufacturing sector holds tremendous promise, offering the potential to create jobs, reduce imports, and increase value addition on the continent. 

Yet, many manufacturers across Africa face a major challenge that is often underestimated: securing a reliable and sustainable supply of raw materials.

Too often, entrepreneurs and business owners in the production space focus on setting up impressive structures—factories, machinery, packaging systems—without giving equal attention to the most critical component of all: the raw materials. This oversight has stalled the growth of many promising enterprises and eroded the trust of distributors and consumers alike.

Take for example a plantain chips production company I know. With a fully equipped facility and an ambitious team, the company seemed ready to dominate the snack food market. However, it has been grounded for nearly six months—not because of a lack of machinery or market demand, but simply because it doesn’t have a consistent and reliable source of plantains. Importing from neighboring countries is not a viable option either, as it would drive production costs too high and make the product uncompetitive.

This is a familiar story across many industries in Africa, from food processing to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Without guaranteed access to raw materials, even the best production plans collapse. Distributors grow wary, market share slips away, and reputations suffer.

Production is not just about equipment—it is about the entire value chain. Sourcing should be considered as vital as machinery. In fact, the ability to secure a dependable raw material supply should be a key part of any business plan before major investments are made in infrastructure.

This calls for a shift in mindset among African manufacturers and policymakers. Supporting agriculture, investing in local sourcing partnerships, building supply chain networks, and even collaborating with farmer cooperatives can make all the difference. It's time we stop treating raw materials as an afterthought and start recognizing them as the foundation of sustainable production.

Because at the end of the day, you can’t produce what you don’t have.