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Global Rough Production Rebounds in 2021
Jul 7, 2022 3:55 AM
By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT... Diamond production recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2021 as the market bounced back and mining nations in Africa expanded their operations.
Global rough output rose 51% year on year to $13.99 billion, exceeding 2019’s total of $13.57 billion, according to statistics the Kimberley Process (KP) released this week. By volume, production increased 12% to 120 million carats but trailed the 2019 figure of 138.1 million carats.
The numbers reflect significant growth in Angola and Zimbabwe, two countries that are developing their mining industry at high speed. Versus 2019, Angola’s production rose 28% to $1.63 billion, while Zimbabwe’s jumped almost fivefold to $670 million. That helped offset the loss of goods from Australia, where production slumped to zero following the 2020 closure of Argyle, previously the world’s biggest source of diamonds by volume.
In 2020, major mining companies — including De Beers and Alrosa — slashed their production in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Output in Botswana soared 85% to $4.66 billion last year as the situation normalized.
| Country |
2021 Production |
Year-on-year change |
| |
Volume (thousand cts.) |
Value ($ million) |
$/ct. |
Volume |
Value |
$/ct. |
| Botswana |
22,878
|
$4,657 |
$204 | 35%
| 85%
| 37%
| | Russia |
39,117 | $2,643
| $68
|
25%
| 17%
| -7%
| | Angola |
8,723
| $1,626
| $186
|
13%
| 60%
| 42%
| | Canada | 17,615 |
$1,512
|
$86
|
34%
| 63%
| 21%
| | South Africa |
9,718 |
$1,360
|
$140
| 15%
| 42%
| 24%
| | Namibia |
1,763 | $823 |
$467
|
14%
| 14%
| 0%
| | Zimbabwe |
4,225 |
$670 |
$159
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58%
| 339%
| 178%
| | Lesotho |
339 | $257
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$756
| -29%
| -2%
| 39%
| | DR Congo | 14,091 |
$168 |
$12
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11%
| 88%
| 70%
|
| Sierra Leone |
839
| $164
|
$195
| 31%
| 37%
| 5%
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Source: Kimberley Process
Image: Rough diamonds. (Shutterstock)
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Tags:
Alrosa, Angola, Argyle mine, Australia, COVID-19, De Beers, diamonds, Kimberley Process, KP, Rapaport News, Zimbabwe
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