De Beers reported that in a year-on-year comparison, Diamond production increased 36 per cent in the second quarter of this year to 8.7 million carats. The increase is in line with higher production forecast for 2017 and reflecting stable trading conditions as well as the contribution from the ramp-up of Gahcho Kué in Canada, the company said.
Production for the first half of this year stood at 16.1 million carats, a 21 percent increase over the 13.3 million carats produced in the first half of 2016.
Consolidated rough diamond sales volumes in Q2 2017 were 5.4 million carats (5.9 million carats on a total 100 per cent basis) from two Sights, compared with 9.6 million carats (10.2 million carats on a total 100 per cent basis) from three Sights in Q2 2016. Apart from the additional Sight in Q2 2016, the decrease was expected, given the strong levels of midstream restocking in H1 2016.
For H1 2017, consolidated sales volumes were 19.1 million carats (20 million carats on a total 100 per cent basis), compared with 17.2 million carats (18.3 million carats on a total 100 per cent basis) in H1 2016.
The average realised price of $156 per carat in H1 2017 was 12 per cent lower than in H1 2016. This, De Beers said, reflected strong demand in the first Sight of this year for lower value goods held in stock as of December 31, 2016, following a recovery from the initial impact of India’s demonetisation programme in late 2016. The lower value mix was partially offset by a higher average rough price index, that was up four per cent.
Debswana (Botswana) production increased 14 per cent to 5.9 million carats. Orapa’s production increased 44 per cent driven by the ramp-up of Plant 1, which was previously on partial care and maintenance in response to trading conditions in late 2015. This was marginally offset by Jwaneng where production decreased by three per cent.
Namdeb Holdings (Namibia) production increased 32 per cent to 0.4 million carats as a result of Debmarine Namibia’s Mafuta vessel being on planned extended in-port maintenance in Q2 2016.
DBCM (South Africa) production increased 71 per cent to 1.4 million carats largely as a result of higher grades at Venetia.
Production in Canada increased almost six-fold to one million carats due to the ramp-up of Gahcho Kué to nameplate capacity.
Full year production guidance remains unchanged at 31-33 million carats, subject to trading conditions.
https://www.gemkonnect.com/news/de-beers-q2-production-36-87m-carats-h1-21-161m-carats