Botswana’s Rough Exports Drop in 1H

RAPAPORT… Exports of rough diamonds that De Beers mined in Botswana
declined 2.5% to $1.67 billion in the first half of 2018, according to data the
nation’s central bank released this week.



Shipments fell 6% year on year to $758.1 million in the
second quarter, after increasing 0.3% to $915.5 million in the first, the Bank
of Botswana reported.


The figures refer to goods that Debswana, De Beers’ joint
venture with the country’s government, produces and sells to De Beers Global
Sightholder Sales and Okavango Diamond Company. They exclude shipments of other
stones De Beers sources from other countries and sells at sights in Botswana.


De Beers’ total rough-diamond sales were flat at $2.9
billion in the first half, it reported last week. However, the average price of
Debswana goods fell 6% to $155 per carat.



Image: Debswana