Botswana, De Beers sign overdue diamond deal

Botswana’s government signed on Tuesday a long-delayed diamond mining and sales agreement with Anglo American unit De Beers, the world’s leading diamond producer by value.

As part of the deal, Botswana’s share of the diamonds produced by Debswana, a 50-50 joint venture between the country’s government and De Beers, will increase from 25% to 50%. Botswana will receive 10 billion pula ($712 million) in development funding, in line with a provisional 10-year arrangement reached in 2023.

The agreement, in negotiations since 2018, also extends the mining licenses for Debswana until 2054. Previously, the licenses were set to expire in 2029.

The signing of the contract had stalled under former President Mokgweetsi Masisi but was prioritized by President Duma Boko, who took office last October.

Botswana, the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds by value, depends on the sector for the bulk of its national revenue. President Boko, however, has voiced concerns that the industry is not generating enough employment opportunities.

While Debswana’s diamond production accounts for 80% of Botswana’s exports, the country has struggled to diversify beyond mining. Despite a relatively high annual per capita income of $7,820 — exceeding that of oil-rich Gabon and South Africa, the continent’s biggest economy—job creation remains limited.

The deal comes at a crucial time for De Beers, as its parent company, Anglo American, considers spinning out the diamond business through a sale or initial public offering. Analysts warn that weak global diamond prices could complicate such a move.

Botswana remains integral to De Beers’ operations, supplying 70% of its annual rough diamonds. The government also holds a 15% stake in De Beers, underscoring the long-standing strategic partnership between the two parties.

Source: Mining.com

Anglo American writes down value of diamond firm De Beers by $2.9bn

The world’s biggest diamond miner, De Beers, cost its parent company almost $3bn last year as the growth in lab-grown stones continues to take the shine off the industry.

Anglo American was forced to write down the value of the renowned gem producer for a second consecutive year as its chief executive admitted the diamond markets had proved “really, really difficult for the company”.

Duncan Wanblad, the chief executive of Anglo American, added that its plan to shrug off De Beers as part of a radical strategy to dismantle parts of the 108-year-old group – which coined the slogan “a diamond is forever” in 1947 – may be delayed.

He added that the FTSE 100 company did not expect “much traction or progress” on its plans to spin off De Beers in the first half of the year, which could be via a trade sale or a listing via an IPO or demerger, but it might “pick up” towards the end of the year.

Diamond prices have slumped over the past decade because of the rising popularity of cheaper, lab-grown versions and a slowdown in consumer spending in China.

In response, Anglo has taken impairments of $2.9bn on De Beers last year, after a $1.6bn writedown of the company in its annual results last year. This drove Anglo to a $3.1bn net loss in 2024, from a $283m profit the previous year.

The latest writedown of De Beers, which once controlled 90% of the world’s diamond market, means the company is now valued at $4bn.

Anglo laid bare the ongoing losses at De Beers after setting out a plan last year to sell the diamond business as part of a historic corporate overhaul to defend the company against a £34bn takeover plot by the Australian miner BHP.

Anglo hopes to guard the company against further unsolicited advances from BHP, which attempted to force the board to offload two Johannesburg-listed subsidiaries, the platinum miner Amplats and the iron ore miner Kumba, in order to complete a takeover.

Wanblad said the company had received unsolicited interest in the diamond business but a formal process had not started. At least part of the company is expected to be purchased by the government of Botswana, which hosts many of the company’s diamond mines.

Source: Theguardiam

Duffy resigns as Petra CEO, interim revenue knocked by market weakness

Independent mining group Petra Diamonds, which owns and operates diamond mines in South Africa, has appointed two interim CEOs Vivek Gadodia and Juan Kemp to succeed Richard Duffy, who has resigned by mutual agreement and with immediate effect.

Gadodia will oversee all corporate matters of the group, while Kemp will oversee all operational matters.

At this point, they will not be appointed as directors.

Vivek joined Petra in 2021 with his roles having included planning and corporate planning executive and chief restructuring officer. He previously worked for Sasol in various engineering, project management and corporate positions over a 15-year period.

Kemp, meanwhile, joined Petra in 2009 when the company bought its flagship Cullinan mine from fellow miner De Beers.

Kemp was GM of the mine since 2011 before having been appointed as a chief technical officer in 2019 and operations executive for the Cullinan mine in 2024.

His earlier career included positions at De Beers and AngloGold Ashanti.

The appointments of the interim CEOs come as Petra struggles with lower earnings generation and high debt.

The company’s results for the six months ended December 31, 2024, reflect Petra’s progress in implementing cost reduction plans and smoothed capital profiles, despite weakness in the diamond market.

Petra managed to reduce its mining and processing costs from continuing operations by 19% year-on-year to $98-million.

However, the group’s revenue was also lower by 30% year-on-year, or $49-million, at $115-million owing to additional revenue of $50-million having been carried over from tenders into the prior comparable period.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation amounted to $15-million, which was lower than the $38-million adjusted Ebitda reported in the first half of the prior financial year.

The company’s basic loss a share from continuing operations was $0.30, or $0.13 on an adjusted basis.

Operational free cash inflow of $16-million in the six months under review compares with a $21-million outflow in the first half of the prior year, which Petra says largely reflects the impact of its cost reduction measures, capital smoothing and working capital management.

The lower revenue and earnings over the financial year of 2024, caused Petra to not meet its required leverage and interest cover covenant ratios in its revolving credit facility measured at December 31, 2024.

Petra has since obtained a waiver from the lender, Absa Bank, related to these covenant breaches, and is restarting engagements with lenders regarding the refinancing of its debt.

The group’s consolidated net debt was $215-million as at December 31, compared with $193-million at the end of June, owing to diamond market weakness and the timing of Petra’s tender sales.

Three tender sales took place during the first half of the 2025 financial year (the six months ended December 31), while four have been scheduled for the remainder of the financial year.

Petra realised an average price of $103/ct in the reporting period, which reflects the positive impact of product mix over the period offsetting the overall weaker diamond pricing environment.

OPERATIONS

The group has achieved cost reductions through sustainably lowering overheads and on-mine cost optimisation with limited impact to its operations.

Petra completed the sale of its interest in the Koffiefontein mine to the Stargems Group in the six months under review, which allowed the group to avoid closure-related costs of $23-million.

Petra also entered into an agreement in January to sell its interest in the Williamson mine, in Tanzania, to Pink Diamonds Investments for a headline consideration of $16-million.

The group expects the sale of its interest in the Williamson mine to be completed by the end of the calendar year.

The Finsch mine has transitioned into new production areas called 78-Level Phase 2, with steady operations having been reported over the past few months.

In turn, production from the CC1E zone at the Cullinan mine has also started in the interim period, while Petra continues to advance more extension projects at both of these mines, as well as life-of-mine plan reviews.

Petra intends to re-engage its lenders with a revised business plan and updated cost-savings initiatives, as part of its overall restructuring plan.

The group is targeting net free cashflow generation for the remainder of the financial year, as well as more efforts to make the company resilient to pricing weakness.

Source: DCLA

De Beers Adapts to India’s Growing Demand for Lab-Grown Diamonds

De Beers, long associated with the glamour of natural diamonds, is now grappling with a fading shine. The rise of lab-grown diamonds, which have gained popularity among millennial and Gen Z consumers in India and worldwide from the US to China poses a significant challenge.

Lab-grown diamonds offer several advantages: they are 60-75% more affordable than natural diamonds, and as mass production increases, prices continue to drop. Moreover, they share the same chemical composition as natural diamonds and are visually indistinguishable to the naked eye.

Source: DCLA

Anglo American to review De Beers value amid weak diamond demand

Anglo American expects its De Beers diamond business to record an impairment amid declining diamond sales.

The London-listed miner announced Thursday that it will review De Beers’ value as it looks to exit the business, citing persistently weak diamond demand. Last year, Anglo reduced De Beers’ book value by $1.6 billion to $7.6 billion.

De Beers rough diamond production decreased by 26% to 5.8 million carats in 2024, compared to the previous year. The 2025 production guidance has been revised to 20–23 million carats, down from the previous estimate of 30–33 million carats. Anglo anticipates a marginal loss for the diamond business in 2024.

The mining giant put the world’s largest diamond producer up for sale last year as part of its portfolio simplification following a tentative takeover bid from BHP (ASX: BHP).

Anglo chief executive officer Duncan Wanblad stated earlier this week that the company plans to exit De Beers by the end of the year.

In November, Anglo announced agreements to sell its steelmaking coal business for up to $4.9 billion, with the Peabody transaction expected to close by the third quarter of 2025.

Additionally, the company completed a second bookbuild offering of Anglo American Platinum shares.

2024 production
On Thursday, the company reported that all of its businesses met their full-year production guidance.

It produced 773 kt of copper in 2024, aligning with its 730-790 kt guidance range, with the Quellaveco mine in Peru achieving its strongest quarter of the year in Q4.

“Our forward production guidance is unchanged in copper with growth in 2026 driven by higher grades in Chile, with this production level then maintained in 2027,” said Wanblad.

“We continue to set up the copper business for growth in subsequent years with the resumption of the smaller plant at Los Bronces and through debottlenecking at Collahuasi,” he said.

Anglo’s Minas-Rio iron ore operation in Brazil set a record, producing 25 million tonnes for the year, contributing to the company’s total iron ore production of 60.8 million tonnes in 2024.

“The key focus for the market has been on copper and production came ahead of expectations, with a strong result from Los Bronces, and guidance for FY25 remains unchanged,” RBC Capital Markets analysts commented in a note.

“However, not much good news beyond that with weak realised pricing in both iron ore and copper.”

Anglo American shares rose more than 5% in London trading following the results. The company has a market cap of £32.9 billion ($40.9 billion).

Source: DCLA

De Beers seals sales and mining contract with Botswana

De Beers, the world’s leading diamond producer by value, has concluded negotiations with the Botswana government on a new sales agreement and the extension of mining licenses for their joint venture, Debswana, until 2054.

The finalized agreement, the Anglo American unit said on Monday, follows discussions aimed at setting a new framework for the sale of rough diamond production from Debswana, a 50:50 partnership between De Beers and Botswana. The deal also secures the renewal of Debswana’s mining licenses, which were previously set to expire in 2029.

“Until the execution of these new agreements, the terms of the existing agreements will continue to remain in effect,” the diamond producer said.

Currently, 75% of Debswana’s diamond output is sold to De Beers. In 2023, the two parties reached a provisional 10-year agreement under which Botswana’s share of production was set to gradually increase to 50%.

The accord also established that Botswana’s state-owned diamond trading company was expected to receive 30% of Debswana’s production.

The government would also secure 10 billion pula ($712 million) in development funding as part of the deal. However, the deal stalled under the leadership of former President Mokgweetsi Masisi.

In January, newly elected President Duma Boko announced that his administration had reached an agreement with De Beers. Botswana, the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds by value, depends on the industry for the majority of its national revenue.

This new agreement comes at a pivotal time for De Beers as parent company Anglo American plans to spin off the diamond business through either a sale or an initial public offering. Analysts have noted that current depressed diamond prices may complicate efforts to finalize such a transaction.

Botswana remains a cornerstone of De Beers’ operations, accounting for 70% of its annual rough diamond supply. The government also holds a 15% stake in De Beers, underscoring the importance of the long-standing partnership between the two parties.

Source: DCLA

De Beers sees India as a bright spot, notes early recovery signs in US

India has been emerging as a bright spot for the cut and polished diamonds amidst a slowdown in key markets such as the US and China, Amit Pratihari, managing director, De Beers India told Reuters on Wednesday.

India is the world’s largest centre for cutting and polishing diamonds, accounting for nine out of 10 diamonds polished globally, according to Indian government data.

However, the country’s cut and polished diamond exports fell this year because of weak demand from China and the US, forcing the industry to focus on the growing domestic market that surpassed China last year to become the world’s second-largest.

“China has completely slowed down in the luxury segment … We see India growing very strongly,” Pratihari said in an interview.

De Beers, a unit of Anglo American, is the world’s top diamond producer by value and India’s number one supplier of rough diamonds.

However, there were some early signs of recovery in the US and “big growth” in the Middle East, Pratihari said.

“In next couple of months, we expect recovery,” he said.

Weak exports demand for polished diamonds forced Indian processors to trim imports of rough diamonds by 22% to $7.9 billion during April to December, according to India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

De Beers is adjusting prices of rough diamonds to support the midstream industry – companies that buy rough diamonds from miners and sell them after cutting and polishing to retailers – in the face of polished diamond prices falling more than those of rough diamonds, he said.

“Miners are controlling the supply so more rough does not come into the market that would put additional pressure on the polished prices. But the pressure on polished prices is in midstream as in retail there is no change,” he said.

India’s cut and polished diamond exports fell by 8.3% to $9.76 billion in April-December compared with the 2023 period, according to GJEPC.

Source: DCLA

Botswana’s leader says diamond deal reached with De Beers

Botswana’s president Duma Boko, who swept to power in October elections, said his government has reached a diamond extraction and sales agreement with De Beers that will bring certainty to the gem-dependent economy.

Terms were finalized by midnight on Jan. 24 and will be announced soon, Boko said in an interview on Tuesday. The southern African nation is the world’s biggest producer of rough diamonds by value and the industry generates the bulk of its income. Most of Botswana’s gems are mined by Debswana, a venture between Anglo American Plc’s De Beers unit and the government.

“The issue with De Beers has been settled,” Boko said in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he is attending an energy conference. He indicated last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that an agreement was imminent, and said he had followed through on his commitment to conclude it.

During his election campaign, Boko was critical of his predecessor Mokgweetsi Masisi’s handling of talks with De Beers to renew the more than half century alliance between Botswana and the world’s largest diamond firm. Masisi had caused De Beers to consider walking away from the deal, Boko said, and he sought to reopen talks.

Boko’s Umbrella for Democratic Change coalition unseated Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party, which had led the country since independence from the UK in 1966.

The new agreement had not resulted in “any major changes, just a little tweaking of things here and there,” he said.

Under the provisional terms of a 10-year accord announced by Botswana’s previous administration in July, the state-owned diamond trader was to get 30% of Debswana’s output, while the government would secure 10 billion pula ($720 million) in development funding.

De Beers didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

An arid, underdeveloped nation at independence, Botswana has leveraged the discovery of diamonds in 1967 to build itself into the richest country per capita on Africa’s mainland, according to the World Bank.

Lab threat
Still, a prolonged slump in the global diamond market and a challenge from lab-grown gems has hurt its economy. Boko said the agreement will restore certainty and economic growth will follow.

The country will focus on promoting its gems as natural and charging a premium for their provenance, marking them to show they have been mined in the country and their sale promotes development, he said. Diamond revenues in some other parts of Africa have been used to finance conflict.

“We appreciate the threat posed by lab-grown diamonds. I don’t want to give them the privilege of calling them diamonds. Diamonds are natural,” he said. “We will then market our diamonds in terms of their provenance and of the story behind the diamond.”

Source: mining.com

Botswana and De Beers “on Brink of Deal”

Botswana and De Beers are reportedly on the brink of signing a critical and long-awaited sales agreement that was due for renewal back in June 2023.

Botswana’s new President Duma Boko told reporters last Thursday (23 January) he was hoping it would happen as early as Friday, although as of Sunday (26 January) there was still no confirmation.

Boko, speaking at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, said there was just some “tidying up” left, according to a Reuters report.

The deal, which would see Botswana’s share of diamonds from the Debswana joint venture increase from 25 per cent to 50 per cent over the next decade, was agreed in principle by Boko’s predecessor Mokgweetsi Masisi after he repeatedly threatened to walk away from it.

But the actual deal, with all the small print, was never signed. The deal also extends mining licenses until 2054 and commits De Beers to invest up to $825m over 10 years to help develop Botswana’s economy.

Source: Idex

New BHP/Anglo Bid “Almost Oven-Ready”

A renewed takeover bid of Anglo American by rival miner BHP is “almost oven-ready,” according to City sources cited by the UK Sunday Times newspaper (12 January).

Australia-based BHP made an unsuccessful bid for the company that owns De Beers last April, increasing from its all-share offer of $39bn to just over $49bn before it was rejected by the Anglo board.

But the six-month cooling-off period imposed by UK regulators is now over and speculation is again mounting that BHP is set for a new assault.

“Anglo’s management have got the bit between the teeth,” one investor with big holdings in both companies told the Sunday Times.

“Ironically, this may make them more of a target. But the price they could demand for Anglo would be higher.”

BHP is keen to acquire Anglo’s copper mines but has made it clear that it has no interest in De Beers, or in its PGM (platinum group metals) assets.

Since the failed BHP bid, Anglo has raised $4bn from the sale of coal mines, and is preparing to dump De Beers and its PGNs, all of which makes it more attractive to BHP.

Anglo announced in May, shortly after the BHP bid, that it would sell or demerge both its diamond and PGM operations (as well as nickel and steelmaking coal) to focus on copper and other more profitable parts of its business.

De Beers, which seen sales slump in 2023, would “be divested or demerged, to improve strategic flexibility for both De Beers and Anglo American,” the company said.

Source: DCLA

De Beers sitting on largest diamond inventory since 2008, FT reports

De Beers has reportedly built up its largest stockpile of diamonds since the 2008 financial crisis, with an inventory valued now at roughly $2 billion, according the Financial Times.

“It’s been a bad year for rough diamond sales,” De Beers chief executive Al Cook told the FT, though he did not provide additional details on its inventory.

The diamond giant has faced multiple headwinds in recent years. A slumping Chinese economy, in particular, has been a major drag on demand. Cheaper lab-grown diamonds are also adding pressure.

In a briefing to Bloomberg last year, Cook said his company has been building its stock on the assumption that diamond prices will recover, and that it will be able to sell that supply.

At the end of 2024, that hasn’t materialized. For the first half of this year, De Beers’ sales were down about 20% compared to the same time a year ago.

Still, Cook remains upbeat about a turnaround. “As we go independent, we have the freedom to focus on marketing as hard as we focused on mining,” he told the FT.

“This feels to me like the right time to be driving marketing and getting behind our brands and retail, even as we cut the capital and the spend on the mining side.”

However, a new report from McKinsey gave a less optimistic outlook for diamond miners, suggesting that lab-grown alternatives could one day take over the market.

Earlier this year, De Beers’ parent company Anglo American announced plans to spin off the diamond business either through a sale or an initial public offering.

Source: DCLA

De Beers Cuts Rough Prices

De Beers has reportedly lowered rough prices at its current sight in Gaborone, by as much as 15 per cent in some cases.

It generally uses price cuts only as a last resort, and prefers to offer sight holders the right to refuse or sell back part of their allocation.

Insiders have expressed surprise, and in some cases disappointment at the move, with the holiday buying season now here, and polished prices finally showing signs of recovery.

According to the Bloomberg news website, De Beers “cut prices by 10 per cent to 15 per cent for most of the goods it sells”. It cited anonymous insiders.

De Beers has until now maintained its prices in spite of weak demand, and despite the fact that they are often significantly higher than other sellers.

De Beers no longer publishes Sight revenues, but it is reckoned to have sold no more than $130m at its November Sight (average per 2023 Sight was over $360m).

Last week the company confirmed it would be cutting the number of Sightholders – there are currently 69 – as of 2026 in a move designed to build partnerships that “create value”.

The future of De Beers remains uncertain, with parent company Anglo American planning to sell it off, and Anglo itself again the focus of intense speculation.

Rival miner BHP, which bid unsuccessfully for Anglo six months ago, is now allowed to make a renewed approach.

Source: DCLA

De Beers to Cut Sightholder Numbers

De Beers says it will further reduce the number of sightholders, in a move designed to build partnerships that “create value”.

The emphasis will be on quality rather than quantity, CEO Al Cook told the Facets 2024 conference in Antwerp yesterday (26 November).

De Beers wrote to its 69 current sightholders last month advising them that a new supply agreement, as of January 2026, would be determined by an objective selection and allocation process. It declined to comment at the time.

“There will be some partnerships around the polished side, some partnerships around the rough side, some partnerships around dealing, some partnerships that go all the way into retail, but every partnership must create value, and that’s really important for all of our industry going forward,” Cook told the conference.

De Beers last reduced the number of sightholders in January 2021, when it introduced new contracts dividing buyers into three categories – dealers, manufacturers and integrated retailers.

The number of De Beers sightholders peaked at around 350 in the 1970s. It had halved by 2001 and was further reduced in subsequent changes to the client structure.

Source: DCLA

Diamond miners face turning point amid weak prices

The diamond industry, once a symbol of timeless stability, finds itself in a state of flux as prices for natural diamonds hit multiyear lows, driven by a mix of evolving consumer preferences, geopolitical upheaval, and the meteoric rise of lab-grown diamonds (LGDs), a new study shows. 

The reversal of fortunes that followed a surge during the covid-19 pandemic has left industry stakeholders grappling with how to adapt to ensure long-term sustainability, consultancy McKinsey & Company says in its latest report.

During the pandemic, diamond prices rose unexpectedly. Supply chain disruptions and the delay of weddings initially dampened sales, but many consumers stuck at home turned to diamonds as a form of self-care. This led to an unanticipated spike in demand and a sharp rise in prices. 

The post-pandemic market has painted a very different picture. As traditional engagement and marriage cycles return and supply chains normalize, prices have tumbled amid changing market dynamics, McKinsey & Co. says.

Ten years ago, young customers were an important segment of the overall demand for precious stones. Today, they seek more affordable and ethical alternatives.

With prices up to 80% lower than mined diamonds, LGDs have swiftly carved out a substantial share of the market, challenging traditional producers, the report shows.

Shifting customer values

Increased awareness of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues has also driven consumers to demand greater transparency and sustainability in diamond sourcing. Many buyers now insist on proof that their diamonds were mined under fair conditions with minimal environmental impact. This shift is particularly pronounced among younger generations, who are reshaping the jewelry market with their purchasing power and values.

Generation Z is leading a wave of change, favouring ethical and customizable products over traditional offerings. Younger buyers are more likely to seek out jewelry that aligns with their values, including fair labor practices and sustainability.

Many are turning to digital platforms for their purchases, with online fine jewelry sales growing significantly. In 2021, the average online purchase of diamond jewellery in the US was $2,204, compared to $2,994 in physical stores, signalling a growing comfort with digital transactions for high-value items.

The trend of self-purchasing is another key shift. Rather than waiting for significant life events like engagements or weddings, many consumers are now buying fine jewelry for themselves.

Industry actors Beers Group and Signet Jewelers launched in October their “Worth the Wait” campaign, aimed at reigniting demand for mined diamonds from youngsters, particularly amid “zillennials”, the microgeneration born between 1993 and 1998.

Geopolitical and gov’t factors

Adding to the industry’s challenges are geopolitical tensions. Sanctions targeting Russian diamonds have disrupted the global supply chain, particularly for larger stones. Russia’s Alrosa, once the world’s top diamond producer by output, has been heavily sanctioned by the US and the European Union, creating regional dislocations. 

McKinsey & Company warns that, by March 2025, these restrictions will tighten further, targeting stones of 0.5 carats and above, exacerbating supply chain issues.

The upheaval comes at a time when natural-diamond production is already constrained. Growth in supply is expected to remain sluggish, with an annual increase of just 1–2% through 2027, far below historical trends. Major mining companies are grappling with depleting resources, forcing them to shift from open-pit mining to more expensive underground operations. Companies like De Beers have invested billions to extend the life of their mines, but these efforts are costly and time-consuming.

Government intervention is also reshaping the industry. In diamond-rich regions, including Botswana, public authorities are taking larger stakes in mining operations, emphasizing the need for transparent and sustainable practices. 

Despite the challenges, there are opportunities for companies willing to adapt, the consultancy says. Producers can diversify their offerings by incorporating LGDs or recycled diamonds into their portfolios. They can also emphasize the unique, intrinsic value of natural diamonds, appealing to consumers who value rarity and tradition. Investments in sustainability and digital commerce are likely to pay dividends, as consumers increasingly demand ethical and seamless shopping experiences.

The consultants conclude that by embracing innovation and aligning with shifting consumer values, the industry may find a way to shine brightly once more.

Source: Mining.com

De Beers Finds High-Potential Kimberlite Sites in Angola

De Beers says it has identified eight new high-potential kimberlite sites in Angola, according to the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

It resumed explorations in the country in 2022, after a 10-year gap, and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in February with Angola’s National Mineral Resource Agency, and its state-owned mining and trading companies, Endiama and Sodiam.

Aerial surveys by De Beers have so far identified eight sites in Lunda Sul, the northeastern province that is home to the huge Catoca mine. De Beers is now exploring six more areas, together with Endiama.

Angola has yet to explore 60 per cent of its diamond-rich territories. It opened its new Luele diamond mine last November, in a move that is forecast to increase annual production from 9.7m carats in 2023 to 14.6m carats this year.

Under the terms of the MoU there will be a review of kimberlite deposits to be explored and the transparency and traceability of diamond production will be promoted.

Source: IDEX

WFDB Call for Five-Year Marketing Campaign

The natural diamond industry needs coordinated and consistent marketing campaigns to counter declining demand, says Yoram Dvash, president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB).

In an open letter he calls on every member of the industry to help create a five-year plan, rather than relying on “short-term initiatives when the situation is particularly dire”.

He acknowledges that De Beers and the Natural Diamond Council are both spending millions of dollars on campaigns with leading retailers, but says it’s not enough.

“I am concerned that this is too little and too late,” he says. “To be successful, campaigns need to be coordinated and to be consistent throughout the year.”

He says there hasn’t been a major generic marketing campaign for natural diamonds for almost 20 years, when De Beers halted its “A Diamond is Forever” promotion.

“An entire generation of consumers has come of age without having been exposed to promotional campaigns with positive messages about natural diamonds,” he says in a letter to all the WFDB’s 29 member bourses.

Source: DCLA

De Beers Diamond Production Down by a Quarter

De Beers’ diamond production fell by 25 per cent during the quarter ending 30 September, and could fall even further.

Parent company Anglo American said output for Q3 was 5.6m carats, compared to 7.3m for the same period last year. It reduced production because of challenging market conditions and warned that it would “continue to assess the options to reduce production going forward”.

Anglo also provided an update on plans to sell or demerge its platinum and steelmaking coal assets as part of its “accelerated portfolio simplification” to focus on copper and other more profitable parts of its business, but make no mention of De Beers.

The UK-based company announced in May that it would be seeking a new owner for De Beers, following a bid by mining rival BHP to buy out Anglo.

Duncan Wanblad, chief executive of Anglo American, said: “As previously announced, we reduced rough diamond production from De Beers in response to market conditions.

“The diamond market remains challenging as the midstream continues to hold higher than normal levels of inventory and the expectation remains for a protracted recovery.”

So far this year De Beers has produced 18.9m carats, a 21 per cent drop on YTD 2023.

Source: IDEX

De Beers to Disclose Diamonds' Country of Origin

 De Beers to Disclose Diamonds’ Country of Origin

De Beers says it will, for the first time, disclose the country of its diamonds’ origins – Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, or Canada.

The move is designed to meet growing consumer demand for ethical sourcing and transparency, together with a desire to understand the journey of their particular diamond.

De Beers currently sells its rough output to sightholders in aggregated boxes marked only as DTC (Diamond Trading Company) without indicating the country in which they were mined.

It says it will initially provide data on the country of origin for all diamonds over 1.25 carats that are newly registered on its Tracr traceability platform, and over 1.0 carats from January 2025.

De Beers says advanced algorithmic matching enabled by artificial intelligence now allows it to digitally “disaggregate” diamonds to confirm their specific country of origin.

“For the first time in history, we have the technology to provide our customers with the provenance of their diamonds at scale,” said Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group.

“We know that our clients care deeply about sustainability and want to understand the good their diamonds have done. Our ambition is to offer them the story of every De Beers-sourced diamond, tracing its journey and positive impact from its origin to its crafting.”

Source: DCLA

De Beers Group Managed Operations

The global supply of natural diamonds has already peaked, according to Moses Madondo, CEO of De Beers Group Managed Operations. Speaking at the Joburg Indaba, a major mining and resources conference in South Africa, he explained that production is on the decline, with several mine closures on the horizon and no significant new discoveries in sight.

Madondo highlighted that this limited supply could push diamond prices higher. “Since the turn of the century, we’ve only seen one major commercial discovery, the Luele mine in Angola, where we aim to start production by the 2030s. But on a broader scale, global diamond production is set to decline,” he said. This trend, while concerning from a supply perspective, offers the potential for price growth.

In the short term, Madondo expects production to dip, but he anticipates a recovery after 2025, driven by the Luele mine ramping up and South Africa’s Venetia mine shifting to underground operations. However, the looming closure of Canada’s Diavik mine in 2026 and the shutdown of several mines in Russia will further tighten supply.

Lightbox Launches New Campaigns – Despite Ending Production

Lightbox has just launched new campaigns for its lab grown diamonds – despite its announcement in June that it was halting production.

The wholly-owned De Beers-owned subsidiary says it has enough existing inventory to keep it going for the time being.

The production facility in Portland, Oregon, USA, is now being used to manufacture industrial diamonds by Element Six, also owned by De Beers.

“Lightbox has sufficient existing inventory from Element Six to meet the brand’s needs for the foreseeable future,” a company spokesperson told IDEX Online.

“At JCK (in June), we communicated that Element Six (our synthetic diamond industrial business which had also been producing LGDs for Lightbox) would suspend production of LGDs for jewellery to focus on high-tech industrial applications.

“However, Lightbox as a brand is continuing as it plays an important role in supporting the differentiation between LGDs and natural diamonds as LGD prices continue to decline and they are increasingly used in fashion jewellery.

“The latest Lightbox campaigns, referenced in the email below, reinforce this as they focus on foregrounding the message of Lightbox’s recently lowered per carat pricing and its fashion-forward approach to product design.

Lightbox says its new Fall campaigns – Shine Bright Spend Less and Modern Family – reflect the brand’s focus on fashion jewelry and accessible pricing.

Melissa Crivillaro, Lightbox’s chief marketing officer, said: “Our accessible prices, our fun and colorful innovations, and our fashion-focused lab-grown diamond jewelry collections underpin Lightbox’s broad appeal.

“As we lean into our next chapter with a revived identity, new creative campaigns and bold price messaging, we look to connect more deeply with our customers.”

Source: DCLA