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ROUGH D I AMOND
PRODUCT I ON
2013 SNAPSHOT
CURRENT PRODUCTION IS WELL BELOW ITS 2005 PEAK
De Beers estimates that overall global rough diamond
production increased by three per cent from 2012
to US$18 billion in 2013. Measured in carats, the
increase was seven per cent, to reach 146 million
carats. This is still well below the production peak in
2005, when overall production was above 176 million
carats
25
(see Fig. 23).
The largest diamond producing country, by volume,
is Russia, which in 2013 produced 25 per cent
of total carats, and 26 per cent of overall rough
diamond value. Botswana produced 16 per cent of
carats, corresponding to 21 per cent of overall value.
Another large volume producing country is the DRC,
which has historically produced on average 19 per
cent of total volume, but equivalent to only roughly
six per cent of value due to low value per carat
26
(see Fig. 24).
De Beers and ALROSA continue to be the two largest
diamond producing groups by value. De Beers’ 2013
share of volume was 21 per cent and its share of value
33 per cent, while ALROSA’s share of volume and
value were 25 per cent and 26 per cent respectively
in 2013 (see Figs. 25 and 26).
The third largest company in the sector is Rio Tinto,
which produced 11 per cent of total carats in 2013,
corresponding to approximately five per cent of global
production value. Another large producer is Angola’s
Catoca mine, generating approximately five per cent
of both volume and value of production in 2013. The
companies operating the alluvial fields of Chiadzwa in
Zimbabwe contributed an estimated eight per cent of
volume and four per cent in value in 2013.
FIG. 23:
GLOBAL PRODUCTION VOLUME (1882-2013)
Source: De Beers
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
180
1882
2013
Million carats (gem only 1882-2008; all carats included 2008-2013)
Note: Prior to 2008, Russian industrial carats were excluded from the
total. From 2008, they are included