Alrosa Sales Plummet Amid Mine Suspensions

RAPAPORT… Alrosa’s sales plunged 39% to $288 million in May due to a
pause in activities at some of the company’s mines.



“There was a planned decrease in sales in May compared to
the similar period last year due to the sale of…inventories…[at]
the beginning of the year and a seasonal decline in the current production, mostly
driven by mining suspension at some alluvial deposits in the first months of
the year,” Alrosa deputy CEO Yury Okoemov said Friday.



Rough-diamond sales dropped 41% year on year to $277.5
million, while polished revenue more than doubled to $10.5 million from $4.5
million.



Total sales for the first five months of the year increased
8% to $2.3 billion. Rough sales for the January-to-May period also increased 8%
to $2.26 billion, with revenue from polished diamonds dropping 2% to $43.3
million.


Image: Alrosa