De Beers Sales Sink to Lowest Level Since 2015

De Beers’ rough-diamond sales plummeted 53% this month as customers accepted the miner’s offer to defer purchases until the market improves.

Weak polished demand and excess supply in the manufacturing and trading sectors have hurt sightholders’ appetite for rough goods, sources explained. As a result, revenues fell to $250 million at De Beers’ sixth sales cycle, the company reported Tuesday — the lowest since late 2015.

“In the US maybe the demand is there, but because of slow demand in Hong Kong and China, we are not able to get the sales [to match] our inventory,” a sightholder told Rapaport News Tuesday. “It’s difficult to make money, and [with high inventories] it’s difficult to keep on buying rough and manufacturing like normal.”

De Beers kept prices steady at last week’s July sight in Botswana, after lowering them in June, buyers said. Instead of offering further discounts, it permitted customers to delay purchases, over and above the standard allowance of one deferral of a box of goods per “band” (selection of goods) per half year. Relaxing the buying obligations should help ease the crisis affecting the market, which will dissipate when diamonds work their way through the pipeline, De Beers predicted.

“With ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, retailers managing inventory levels, and polished-diamond inventories in the midstream continuing to be higher than normal, De Beers Group provided customers with additional flexibility to defer some of their rough-diamond allocations to later in the year,” De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver said. “As a result, we saw a reduction in sales during the sixth cycle of 2019.”

Sales haven’t been this weak since December 2015, when proceeds totaled $248 million. According to Rapaport estimates, the November 2015 sale was even smaller, at approximately $180 million.

Sightholders and brokers showed little optimism that the situation would improve soon, as companies need to sell their excess goods to redress the imbalance of stocks.

“The current crisis in the midstream has moved upstream,” Dudu Harari of brokerage firm Bluedax wrote in a report on the sight. “This means producers can’t sell the quantities they are used to. If they want to increase their sales, there will need to be a big price correction downward to allow the market to reduce its stock of polished.”

De Beers’ rough-diamond revenues have declined 23% year on year in the first six sales cycles of 2019, according to Rapaport calculations. The next sight begins on August 19.

Image: A box of rough diamonds from a De Beers sight.

Source: DCLA

De Beers Sales Sink to Lowest Level Since 2015

De Beers’ rough-diamond sales plummeted 53% this month as customers accepted the miner’s offer to defer purchases until the market improves.

Weak polished demand and excess supply in the manufacturing and trading sectors have hurt sightholders’ appetite for rough goods, sources explained. As a result, revenues fell to $250 million at De Beers’ sixth sales cycle, the company reported Tuesday — the lowest since late 2015.

“In the US maybe the demand is there, but because of slow demand in Hong Kong and China, we are not able to get the sales [to match] our inventory,” a sightholder told Rapaport News Tuesday. “It’s difficult to make money, and [with high inventories] it’s difficult to keep on buying rough and manufacturing like normal.”

De Beers kept prices steady at last week’s July sight in Botswana, after lowering them in June, buyers said. Instead of offering further discounts, it permitted customers to delay purchases, over and above the standard allowance of one deferral of a box of goods per “band” (selection of goods) per half year. Relaxing the buying obligations should help ease the crisis affecting the market, which will dissipate when diamonds work their way through the pipeline, De Beers predicted.

“With ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, retailers managing inventory levels, and polished-diamond inventories in the midstream continuing to be higher than normal, De Beers Group provided customers with additional flexibility to defer some of their rough-diamond allocations to later in the year,” De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver said. “As a result, we saw a reduction in sales during the sixth cycle of 2019.”

Sales haven’t been this weak since December 2015, when proceeds totaled $248 million. According to Rapaport estimates, the November 2015 sale was even smaller, at approximately $180 million.

Sightholders and brokers showed little optimism that the situation would improve soon, as companies need to sell their excess goods to redress the imbalance of stocks.

“The current crisis in the midstream has moved upstream,” Dudu Harari of brokerage firm Bluedax wrote in a report on the sight. “This means producers can’t sell the quantities they are used to. If they want to increase their sales, there will need to be a big price correction downward to allow the market to reduce its stock of polished.”

De Beers’ rough-diamond revenues have declined 23% year on year in the first six sales cycles of 2019, according to Rapaport calculations. The next sight begins on August 19.

Image: A box of rough diamonds from a De Beers sight.

Source: DCLA

A vacationing teacher finds a 2.12-carat diamond at an Arkansas state park

This Nebraska teacher will surely win show-and-tell once the school year begins.
Josh Lanik, 36, was vacationing with his family when he discovered a brandy-colored gem at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas.

Josh Lanik’s family was ready to give up.

The gem-hunting novices were “over” their search at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park after a hot morning with nothing to show buts rocks and glass, Lanik told The Washington Post. Everyone thought it was time for lunch.

Then, the Nebraska teacher stumbled on a shiny brown stone about the size of a jelly bean.

He plucked it from the gravel and took it back to the Murfreesboro park’s offices, making sure to put it in his bag rather than his pockets on the advice of park staff, who had seen many visitors lose their precious finds. A woman took the gem into a backroom in a pill bottle.

She emerged with a smile on her face, Lanik recalled. At 2.12 carats, the diamond was the biggest found in the park this year.

“They were all sorts of excited,” Lanik said.

The Lanik family was less jubilant. Tweeting about the family’s vacation that day, Lanik didn’t even mention the gem. The 36-year-old from Hebron, Neb., figured it wasn’t that special at a place where vacationers regularly pay up to $10 to dig in a 37-acre field atop an old volcanic crater.

Visitors have unearthed and registered almost 300 diamonds at the Crater so far this year, according to the park, which says its fields hide brown, yellow and white gems. The total 2019 haul amounts to about 54 carats, and 11 of this year’s diamonds weighed at least one carat.

But Lanik’s find stood out for its size. The average diamond found at the Crater is about one-fifth to one-fourth of a carat, the park says.

Heavy rainfall probably helped Lanik’s search by uncovering gems, which glint and catch the eye of diggers, park interpreter Waymon Cox told Arkansas State Parks. Park staff found lots of diamonds at the ground’s surface after 14 inches of rain on July 16 but nothing like Lanik’s 2.12 carats.

“Are you going to retire now?” Lanik said one of his former students texted him after seeing the news.

But size is just one factor in a diamond’s value, and when Lanik had the gem appraised in Little Rock, he found it’s “not worth near as much as you’d think,” he said. Uncut or “raw” gems, as well as brown diamonds, are less valuable than a cut or white gem, and the Lanik family’s stone is marred by a fissure. Lanik declined to share the estimated value, but even cut brown diamonds of similar size can be found on eBay for less than $1,000.

Lanik said he plans to put the diamond into a ring for his wife to wear and eventually pass down to their sons. Finding the gem made the long, hot day of digging worth the effort for Lanik and his wife — but he is not so sure about the attitudes of his boys, 6 and 8 years old.

“I think they were just hungry at that point,” Lanik said.

Source: DCLA

A vacationing teacher finds a 2.12-carat diamond at an Arkansas state park

This Nebraska teacher will surely win show-and-tell once the school year begins.
Josh Lanik, 36, was vacationing with his family when he discovered a brandy-colored gem at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas.

Josh Lanik’s family was ready to give up.

The gem-hunting novices were “over” their search at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park after a hot morning with nothing to show buts rocks and glass, Lanik told The Washington Post. Everyone thought it was time for lunch.

Then, the Nebraska teacher stumbled on a shiny brown stone about the size of a jelly bean.

He plucked it from the gravel and took it back to the Murfreesboro park’s offices, making sure to put it in his bag rather than his pockets on the advice of park staff, who had seen many visitors lose their precious finds. A woman took the gem into a backroom in a pill bottle.

She emerged with a smile on her face, Lanik recalled. At 2.12 carats, the diamond was the biggest found in the park this year.

“They were all sorts of excited,” Lanik said.

The Lanik family was less jubilant. Tweeting about the family’s vacation that day, Lanik didn’t even mention the gem. The 36-year-old from Hebron, Neb., figured it wasn’t that special at a place where vacationers regularly pay up to $10 to dig in a 37-acre field atop an old volcanic crater.

Visitors have unearthed and registered almost 300 diamonds at the Crater so far this year, according to the park, which says its fields hide brown, yellow and white gems. The total 2019 haul amounts to about 54 carats, and 11 of this year’s diamonds weighed at least one carat.

But Lanik’s find stood out for its size. The average diamond found at the Crater is about one-fifth to one-fourth of a carat, the park says.

Heavy rainfall probably helped Lanik’s search by uncovering gems, which glint and catch the eye of diggers, park interpreter Waymon Cox told Arkansas State Parks. Park staff found lots of diamonds at the ground’s surface after 14 inches of rain on July 16 but nothing like Lanik’s 2.12 carats.

“Are you going to retire now?” Lanik said one of his former students texted him after seeing the news.

But size is just one factor in a diamond’s value, and when Lanik had the gem appraised in Little Rock, he found it’s “not worth near as much as you’d think,” he said. Uncut or “raw” gems, as well as brown diamonds, are less valuable than a cut or white gem, and the Lanik family’s stone is marred by a fissure. Lanik declined to share the estimated value, but even cut brown diamonds of similar size can be found on eBay for less than $1,000.

Lanik said he plans to put the diamond into a ring for his wife to wear and eventually pass down to their sons. Finding the gem made the long, hot day of digging worth the effort for Lanik and his wife — but he is not so sure about the attitudes of his boys, 6 and 8 years old.

“I think they were just hungry at that point,” Lanik said.

Source: DCLA

Bella Hadid pairs her teeny bikini with $12K in diamonds

Bella Hadid is vacationing in Mykonos, Greece, with sister Gigi, and despite packing enough bikinis and one-pieces to ensure multiple daily outfit options, there’s one extremely expensive accessory she’s sticking with throughout.

The supermodel, 22, has accessorized each of her bathing suits with jeweler Jacquie Aiche’s Diamond Shaker Belly Chain, which retails for a whopping $11,875.

Bella Hadid

The 14k gold and pavé diamond piece can also be worn as a necklace, though Hadid has been sporting hers slung low around her hips.

Over the weekend, the catwalker posted photos of herself pairing the sparkling chain with both a colorful one-piece by Louisa Ballou ($375) and a barely there bikini top ($104) and thong bottoms ($104) from For Love & Lemons.

She also wore it to the beach on Monday, styling it with pigtails and a skimpy brown bikini.

Source: DCLA

Bella Hadid pairs her teeny bikini with $12K in diamonds

Bella Hadid is vacationing in Mykonos, Greece, with sister Gigi, and despite packing enough bikinis and one-pieces to ensure multiple daily outfit options, there’s one extremely expensive accessory she’s sticking with throughout.

The supermodel, 22, has accessorized each of her bathing suits with jeweler Jacquie Aiche’s Diamond Shaker Belly Chain, which retails for a whopping $11,875.

Bella Hadid

The 14k gold and pavé diamond piece can also be worn as a necklace, though Hadid has been sporting hers slung low around her hips.

Over the weekend, the catwalker posted photos of herself pairing the sparkling chain with both a colorful one-piece by Louisa Ballou ($375) and a barely there bikini top ($104) and thong bottoms ($104) from For Love & Lemons.

She also wore it to the beach on Monday, styling it with pigtails and a skimpy brown bikini.

Source: DCLA

Bulgari Boosts LVMH Jewelry Growth

Sales and profit from watches and jewelry at LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton grew in the first half of 2019 amid a strong performance by its Bulgari brand, the company reported Wednesday.

Revenue for the categories rose 8% to EUR 2.14 billion ($2.38 billion) in the six months ending June 30, while profit increased 5% to EUR 357 million ($397.4 million).

“Bulgari made good progress in its stores, and continued to gain market share,” the group said. Lines such as Serpenti, B.Zero1, Diva and Fiorever performed well, as did the new high-end jewelry collection, Cinemagia, LVMH added.

Additionally, Chaumet’s Bee My Love, Liens and Josephine lines saw strong improvements, while watch brand Hublot continued to develop its store network, the company noted.

LVMH’s group revenue jumped 15% to EUR 25.08 billion ($27.92 billion), with increases across all categories. The US and Asia saw strong growth, as did Europe, particularly in France, which performed better in the second quarter than the first as protests in the country became less intense. Net profit climbed 14% to EUR 5.3 billion ($5.89 billion).

Last week, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault edged out Bill Gates for the number-two spot on Bloomberg’s Billionaire’s Index, the first time in the list’s seven-year history Gates has been pushed out of that slot. Arnault’s fortune has increased to $107.6 billion as LVMH’s share price continues to grow, Bloomberg noted. The company’s stock price had risen around 1% at press time Thursday.

Source: DCLA

Bulgari Boosts LVMH Jewelry Growth

Sales and profit from watches and jewelry at LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton grew in the first half of 2019 amid a strong performance by its Bulgari brand, the company reported Wednesday.

Revenue for the categories rose 8% to EUR 2.14 billion ($2.38 billion) in the six months ending June 30, while profit increased 5% to EUR 357 million ($397.4 million).

“Bulgari made good progress in its stores, and continued to gain market share,” the group said. Lines such as Serpenti, B.Zero1, Diva and Fiorever performed well, as did the new high-end jewelry collection, Cinemagia, LVMH added.

Additionally, Chaumet’s Bee My Love, Liens and Josephine lines saw strong improvements, while watch brand Hublot continued to develop its store network, the company noted.

LVMH’s group revenue jumped 15% to EUR 25.08 billion ($27.92 billion), with increases across all categories. The US and Asia saw strong growth, as did Europe, particularly in France, which performed better in the second quarter than the first as protests in the country became less intense. Net profit climbed 14% to EUR 5.3 billion ($5.89 billion).

Last week, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault edged out Bill Gates for the number-two spot on Bloomberg’s Billionaire’s Index, the first time in the list’s seven-year history Gates has been pushed out of that slot. Arnault’s fortune has increased to $107.6 billion as LVMH’s share price continues to grow, Bloomberg noted. The company’s stock price had risen around 1% at press time Thursday.

Source: DCLA

De Beers Lets Clients Delay Rough Purchases

De Beers loosened its purchasing requirements for rough buyers at last week’s sight in an effort to ease the oversupply affecting the diamond market.

Sightholders have struggled to reduce their inventories due to an imbalance of stocks and weak polished demand. To tackle the problem, De Beers allowed its customers to defer purchases from the July sight to other sales later this year, a spokesperson confirmed Thursday.

De Beers’ long-term sales program compels customers to show certain levels of demand at sights, which take place 10 times a year in Botswana. They are free to push off buying one box per “band” (selection of goods) per half year, but only from one sight to the next. However, at last week’s sale, sightholders were able to make an extra deferral, and could also delay to later in the year, not just by one sight.

In addition, the company has brought forward sightholders’ annual opportunity to reschedule their purchases, known as “re-phasing.” This year, that will occur after the July sight, the sixth of the year, whereas it’s normally scheduled for the eighth sight.

De Beers’ revenue and profit fell in the first half, as a buildup of excess polished goods in the midstream and retail sectors hit rough demand, the company explained last week in its half-year earnings. A price reduction at the June sight helped sightholders deal with the weak profitability they are facing, De Beers chief financial officer Nimesh Patel told Rapaport News Thursday.

The miner also lowered its production forecast to 31 million carats for this year, compared with an earlier outlook of 31 million to 33 million carats, Patel noted. Output in 2018 was 35.3 million carats.

Holding back rough

The combination of lower production and prices, together with increased purchasing flexibility, should tackle the “short-term” crisis, Patel predicted. The company also experienced a “meaningful increase” in its own rough inventories during the first half because it held back rough, he said.

“We’ve clearly reacted in terms of price, so we’ve injected profitability back into goods,” the executive said. “Secondly, we’ve reacted in terms of production…. Alongside that, we’re working with our customers to offer them more flexibility in the way they purchase, so [we’ve introduced] re-sequencing of the timing of their purchases of goods through the course of the year, which is something that we’ve allowed [them] to do, and we’ve added to that additional referrals as well. All those things will see us through this difficult period.”

The problems come from within the diamond industry rather than from outside: Growth in global gross domestic product supports consumer demand for diamond jewelry in the long term, Patel said. The US retail market is increasing, while sales in China and India are also rising in local currencies, he observed.

However, weak fourth-quarter holiday sales in 2018 and shaky consumer demand in the first half has made it difficult for the industry to offload polished stocks to retailers, Patel said. Consumers’ shift away from lower-end shopping malls has forced some companies to close stores and liquidate their goods, he added. Furthermore, retailers’ increased reliance on consignment has raised inventory risks for the midstream, as failure to make a final sale often forces suppliers to resend jewelry items to a different client, or to dismantle and remanufacture the jewelry, he explained.

“That doesn’t help the midstream in terms of sell-through,” he noted.

Yet the near future is positive because the issues are “specific to the balance of stocks in the midstream and the downstream,” Patel argued. “It’s a function of that excess polished as it sits today…just working its way through the system. As that happens, we should see polished prices perform better [and] rough demand return.”

Source: DCLA

De Beers Lets Clients Delay Rough Purchases

De Beers loosened its purchasing requirements for rough buyers at last week’s sight in an effort to ease the oversupply affecting the diamond market.

Sightholders have struggled to reduce their inventories due to an imbalance of stocks and weak polished demand. To tackle the problem, De Beers allowed its customers to defer purchases from the July sight to other sales later this year, a spokesperson confirmed Thursday.

De Beers’ long-term sales program compels customers to show certain levels of demand at sights, which take place 10 times a year in Botswana. They are free to push off buying one box per “band” (selection of goods) per half year, but only from one sight to the next. However, at last week’s sale, sightholders were able to make an extra deferral, and could also delay to later in the year, not just by one sight.

In addition, the company has brought forward sightholders’ annual opportunity to reschedule their purchases, known as “re-phasing.” This year, that will occur after the July sight, the sixth of the year, whereas it’s normally scheduled for the eighth sight.

De Beers’ revenue and profit fell in the first half, as a buildup of excess polished goods in the midstream and retail sectors hit rough demand, the company explained last week in its half-year earnings. A price reduction at the June sight helped sightholders deal with the weak profitability they are facing, De Beers chief financial officer Nimesh Patel told Rapaport News Thursday.

The miner also lowered its production forecast to 31 million carats for this year, compared with an earlier outlook of 31 million to 33 million carats, Patel noted. Output in 2018 was 35.3 million carats.

Holding back rough

The combination of lower production and prices, together with increased purchasing flexibility, should tackle the “short-term” crisis, Patel predicted. The company also experienced a “meaningful increase” in its own rough inventories during the first half because it held back rough, he said.

“We’ve clearly reacted in terms of price, so we’ve injected profitability back into goods,” the executive said. “Secondly, we’ve reacted in terms of production…. Alongside that, we’re working with our customers to offer them more flexibility in the way they purchase, so [we’ve introduced] re-sequencing of the timing of their purchases of goods through the course of the year, which is something that we’ve allowed [them] to do, and we’ve added to that additional referrals as well. All those things will see us through this difficult period.”

The problems come from within the diamond industry rather than from outside: Growth in global gross domestic product supports consumer demand for diamond jewelry in the long term, Patel said. The US retail market is increasing, while sales in China and India are also rising in local currencies, he observed.

However, weak fourth-quarter holiday sales in 2018 and shaky consumer demand in the first half has made it difficult for the industry to offload polished stocks to retailers, Patel said. Consumers’ shift away from lower-end shopping malls has forced some companies to close stores and liquidate their goods, he added. Furthermore, retailers’ increased reliance on consignment has raised inventory risks for the midstream, as failure to make a final sale often forces suppliers to resend jewelry items to a different client, or to dismantle and remanufacture the jewelry, he explained.

“That doesn’t help the midstream in terms of sell-through,” he noted.

Yet the near future is positive because the issues are “specific to the balance of stocks in the midstream and the downstream,” Patel argued. “It’s a function of that excess polished as it sits today…just working its way through the system. As that happens, we should see polished prices perform better [and] rough demand return.”

Source: DCLA

Diamond Recoveries Up 34% At Firestone, But Market Unfavorable

Firestone Diamonds announced Thursday that it recovered 208,572 carats in Q4, up 34% from its Q3.

However, the diamond market is not great, warned Paul Bosma, chief executive officer.

“From a market and pricing perspective, it was a tough financial year, particularly for the smaller, lower value goods and these conditions are expected to persist for the rest of 2019 and possibly improving during 2020 when global rough supply is expected to reduce,” said Bosma.

Looking at full year, total recoveries were 829,458 bringing the company within its guidance of between 820,000 and 870,000 carats. Operating costs were $11.49 per tonne, lower than the $15.00 to $16.00 range the company previously forecast.

Firestone is maintaining the same recovery guidance for 2020 fiscal year. Expected operating costs have been reduced between $13.50 and $14.50 per tonne.

The company is currently negotiation with debt holders “…to ensure it can sustain operations through the current downturn and to be well positioned to benefit when the global supply-demand dynamics improve.”

Source: DCLA

Diamond Recoveries Up 34% At Firestone, But Market Unfavorable

Firestone Diamonds announced Thursday that it recovered 208,572 carats in Q4, up 34% from its Q3.

However, the diamond market is not great, warned Paul Bosma, chief executive officer.

“From a market and pricing perspective, it was a tough financial year, particularly for the smaller, lower value goods and these conditions are expected to persist for the rest of 2019 and possibly improving during 2020 when global rough supply is expected to reduce,” said Bosma.

Looking at full year, total recoveries were 829,458 bringing the company within its guidance of between 820,000 and 870,000 carats. Operating costs were $11.49 per tonne, lower than the $15.00 to $16.00 range the company previously forecast.

Firestone is maintaining the same recovery guidance for 2020 fiscal year. Expected operating costs have been reduced between $13.50 and $14.50 per tonne.

The company is currently negotiation with debt holders “…to ensure it can sustain operations through the current downturn and to be well positioned to benefit when the global supply-demand dynamics improve.”

Source: DCLA

De Beers Profit Falls Amid Market Slump

De Beers’ profit dropped in the first half of the year as weak demand at the trade and consumer levels impacted diamond prices, the company said Thursday.

The rough market was subdued due to high inventories in both the midstream and the retail sector, as well as a slowdown in growth of consumer demand, the miner explained. The US-China tariff dispute, protests in Hong Kong and the strong US dollar hit retail performances outside the US, especially in China and the Gulf region. In the US, retailers’ store closures and reduction of stocks weighed on polished demand, creating a further negative effect for the rough business, De Beers added.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) slumped 27% to $518 million as a result of the impact on margins, the miner reported. Total underlying earnings fell 7% to $187 million. Revenue slid 17% to $2.65 billion, with rough-diamond sales decreasing 21% to $2.3 billion. Other revenues came from businesses such as Element Six, its industrial-diamond unit, and De Beers Jewellers, its high-end retail chain.

“The lower rough-diamond sales reflected higher-than-expected polished stocks at retailers and the midstream at the beginning of 2019, with overall midstream inventory levels continuing to be high throughout the first half,” De Beers noted.

De Beers’ rough-price index, measuring prices on a like-for-like basis, fell 4% for the period versus a year earlier. The average selling price declined 7% to $151 per carat, influenced by a change in the sales mix caused by the weaker conditions.

The company expects those challenges to continue in the short term, but also foresees an improvement as the industry reduces its inventory and consumer demand rises.

“Underlying GDP [gross domestic product] growth remains supportive of consumer-demand growth, and is expected to bring midstream and retailer stocks back to more normalized levels as we move into 2020, subject to an improving macroeconomic environment,” De Beers said.

Last week, De Beers reduced its production outlook following low demand, forecasting output of 31 million carats this year, whereas it had previously expected to recover 31 million to 33 million carats. Production fell 11% to 15.6 million carats during the first half, as the company chose not to increase mining levels at other deposits to compensate for a lull at the Venetia mine. Output at the site in South Africa has fallen amid its transition from open-pit to underground operations.

Source: DCLA

De Beers Profit Falls Amid Market Slump

De Beers’ profit dropped in the first half of the year as weak demand at the trade and consumer levels impacted diamond prices, the company said Thursday.

The rough market was subdued due to high inventories in both the midstream and the retail sector, as well as a slowdown in growth of consumer demand, the miner explained. The US-China tariff dispute, protests in Hong Kong and the strong US dollar hit retail performances outside the US, especially in China and the Gulf region. In the US, retailers’ store closures and reduction of stocks weighed on polished demand, creating a further negative effect for the rough business, De Beers added.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) slumped 27% to $518 million as a result of the impact on margins, the miner reported. Total underlying earnings fell 7% to $187 million. Revenue slid 17% to $2.65 billion, with rough-diamond sales decreasing 21% to $2.3 billion. Other revenues came from businesses such as Element Six, its industrial-diamond unit, and De Beers Jewellers, its high-end retail chain.

“The lower rough-diamond sales reflected higher-than-expected polished stocks at retailers and the midstream at the beginning of 2019, with overall midstream inventory levels continuing to be high throughout the first half,” De Beers noted.

De Beers’ rough-price index, measuring prices on a like-for-like basis, fell 4% for the period versus a year earlier. The average selling price declined 7% to $151 per carat, influenced by a change in the sales mix caused by the weaker conditions.

The company expects those challenges to continue in the short term, but also foresees an improvement as the industry reduces its inventory and consumer demand rises.

“Underlying GDP [gross domestic product] growth remains supportive of consumer-demand growth, and is expected to bring midstream and retailer stocks back to more normalized levels as we move into 2020, subject to an improving macroeconomic environment,” De Beers said.

Last week, De Beers reduced its production outlook following low demand, forecasting output of 31 million carats this year, whereas it had previously expected to recover 31 million to 33 million carats. Production fell 11% to 15.6 million carats during the first half, as the company chose not to increase mining levels at other deposits to compensate for a lull at the Venetia mine. Output at the site in South Africa has fallen amid its transition from open-pit to underground operations.

Source: DCLA

Don’t punish African diamond producing countries without cause, WFDB President says

In his first -ever blog, Ernest Blom, president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, argues that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is slow because one of the most hot potatoes is ignored.

The KPCS, he wrote,is one of the great accomplishments of the worldwide diamond community of the last two decades, as more than 99.5 percent of the diamonds produced fall under a certification regime.

On the question why the KPCS agenda is moving so slowly, Blom says there is an elephant in the room nobody wants to acknowledge. “Of course, consuming nations have the right to demand that the strongest possible control mechanisms to guarantee that the diamonds imported into their countries are not tainted by any form of abuse. The same is also true for producing nations. They are entitled to protect the interests of their natural resources, ” Blom wrote.

“So what should producers say – in the interest of their nation – when large retail companies make an announcement that certain countries’ production is not allowed to be sold through them?” he asked . “Any decision taken at the KP or elsewhere affects the entire diamond industry, from mining to the manufacturers and dealers as well as to the smallest retail shop, which affects the lives of tens of millions of people.”

“It should not come as a surprise to anyone in Southern Africa that the enthusiasm to comply with what is perceived as a new form of economic colonialism is pretty limited. When countries are asked to make rules which could hurt them immediately once agreed upon it is difficult to find common ground.”

“If KP Participants are faced with “prima facie” judgments by large corporations and feel the enormous commercial consequences in their supply chain – and this without any written rule or law – then one should not be surprised at their reluctance to have a rule adopted in a formal manner and included in the KP Core Document.” Blom continued and said that there should be a rule in the current definition of conflict diamonds that includes any systemic violence.

At the same time, the objective analysis of facts should be the cornerstone of verification of allegations, and “trial by media” cannot be part of that solution. “This is the elephant that the Indian KP Chair has to ride. If he can do that successfully and neutralize what is perceived as a real threat of becoming excluded, he will have accomplished what many have failed to achieve in the past 10 years. From the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, we wish Shri Alok Vardan Chaturvedi lots of luck in this major task.”

Source: DCLA

Don’t punish African diamond producing countries without cause, WFDB President says

In his first -ever blog, Ernest Blom, president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, argues that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is slow because one of the most hot potatoes is ignored.

The KPCS, he wrote,is one of the great accomplishments of the worldwide diamond community of the last two decades, as more than 99.5 percent of the diamonds produced fall under a certification regime.

On the question why the KPCS agenda is moving so slowly, Blom says there is an elephant in the room nobody wants to acknowledge. “Of course, consuming nations have the right to demand that the strongest possible control mechanisms to guarantee that the diamonds imported into their countries are not tainted by any form of abuse. The same is also true for producing nations. They are entitled to protect the interests of their natural resources, ” Blom wrote.

“So what should producers say – in the interest of their nation – when large retail companies make an announcement that certain countries’ production is not allowed to be sold through them?” he asked . “Any decision taken at the KP or elsewhere affects the entire diamond industry, from mining to the manufacturers and dealers as well as to the smallest retail shop, which affects the lives of tens of millions of people.”

“It should not come as a surprise to anyone in Southern Africa that the enthusiasm to comply with what is perceived as a new form of economic colonialism is pretty limited. When countries are asked to make rules which could hurt them immediately once agreed upon it is difficult to find common ground.”

“If KP Participants are faced with “prima facie” judgments by large corporations and feel the enormous commercial consequences in their supply chain – and this without any written rule or law – then one should not be surprised at their reluctance to have a rule adopted in a formal manner and included in the KP Core Document.” Blom continued and said that there should be a rule in the current definition of conflict diamonds that includes any systemic violence.

At the same time, the objective analysis of facts should be the cornerstone of verification of allegations, and “trial by media” cannot be part of that solution. “This is the elephant that the Indian KP Chair has to ride. If he can do that successfully and neutralize what is perceived as a real threat of becoming excluded, he will have accomplished what many have failed to achieve in the past 10 years. From the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, we wish Shri Alok Vardan Chaturvedi lots of luck in this major task.”

Source: DCLA

Tango Averages $1.4K/ct. at Rough Sale

Tango Mining sold a 19.87-carat rough diamond for $4,358 per carat, one of a number of high-value stones up for tender from its Oena project in South Africa.

The miner sold 230 stones totaling 531.82 carats from its May 9 to July 7 production. It achieved an average price of $1,382 per carat for rough at the sale.

The company also sold a 49.6-carat diamond for $2,561 per carat, a 16.65-carat rough for $2,126 per carat, and a 24.97-carat stone for $1,101 per carat.

In addition, Tango is conducting trial mining in Angola and an exploration project in Liberia.

Source: DCLA

Tango Averages $1.4K/ct. at Rough Sale

Tango Mining sold a 19.87-carat rough diamond for $4,358 per carat, one of a number of high-value stones up for tender from its Oena project in South Africa.

The miner sold 230 stones totaling 531.82 carats from its May 9 to July 7 production. It achieved an average price of $1,382 per carat for rough at the sale.

The company also sold a 49.6-carat diamond for $2,561 per carat, a 16.65-carat rough for $2,126 per carat, and a 24.97-carat stone for $1,101 per carat.

In addition, Tango is conducting trial mining in Angola and an exploration project in Liberia.

Source: DCLA

Belgium Trade Cuts Diamond-Research Funding

The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) will no longer provide financial backing to the city’s diamond-technology unit, citing difficult conditions in the local industry.

“As a result of the high cost of labor in our country, almost the entirety of our diamond manufacturing has relocated abroad,” AWDC spokeswoman Margaux Donckier said Friday.

The AWDC established the Scientific and Technical Research Center for Diamond (WTOCD) in 1977 to support the Belgian diamond-manufacturing sector. The venture was created to improve Antwerp’s competitive position in the global industry, and to develop and implement products for the trade.

“The market for these high-quality machines in Antwerp continues to shrink,” Donckier noted. “They are also too hi-tech, and too expensive, for the majority of polishing units in low-wage countries.”

Those factors have put WTOCD in a difficult situation, Donckier explained. AWDC tried to work with the research center on Fenix, a new, fully automated diamond-polishing process that it believed would offer a competitive edge to Antwerp’s diamond industry. However, the technology, which had been set to debut last September, is still not ready.

“The technology has the potential to spark a revolution in diamond polishing, but at this point we recognize that additional investments are needed to ready the product for the market,” Donckier added, stressing that AWDC cannot afford to invest more given the state of the market.

During the course of its operations, WTOCD created synthetics-detection equipment, such as the M-Screen+ machine, which is sold by HRD Antwerp.

Source: DCLA

Belgium Trade Cuts Diamond-Research Funding

The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) will no longer provide financial backing to the city’s diamond-technology unit, citing difficult conditions in the local industry.

“As a result of the high cost of labor in our country, almost the entirety of our diamond manufacturing has relocated abroad,” AWDC spokeswoman Margaux Donckier said Friday.

The AWDC established the Scientific and Technical Research Center for Diamond (WTOCD) in 1977 to support the Belgian diamond-manufacturing sector. The venture was created to improve Antwerp’s competitive position in the global industry, and to develop and implement products for the trade.

“The market for these high-quality machines in Antwerp continues to shrink,” Donckier noted. “They are also too hi-tech, and too expensive, for the majority of polishing units in low-wage countries.”

Those factors have put WTOCD in a difficult situation, Donckier explained. AWDC tried to work with the research center on Fenix, a new, fully automated diamond-polishing process that it believed would offer a competitive edge to Antwerp’s diamond industry. However, the technology, which had been set to debut last September, is still not ready.

“The technology has the potential to spark a revolution in diamond polishing, but at this point we recognize that additional investments are needed to ready the product for the market,” Donckier added, stressing that AWDC cannot afford to invest more given the state of the market.

During the course of its operations, WTOCD created synthetics-detection equipment, such as the M-Screen+ machine, which is sold by HRD Antwerp.

Source: DCLA