Botswana Rough Diamond Export Figures Declining

Botswana’s rough diamond exports keep shrinking, a decline that has been affecting the country’s exports since the fourth quarter of 2011, according to figures published by the Bank of Botswana.

Rough diamond exports in March totaled $182.5 million, declining 7.7% compared to March 2012 and falling 15.6% compared to February 2013.

Exports of the country's mined rough diamonds totaled an estimated $216.3 million in February, a 16.5% year-over-year decline. Compared to January, exports in February declined 32.4%. In January Botswana exported $320.1 million worth of locally mined rough diamonds.

Botswana is the world’s leading diamond producer by value and De Beers’ main source of diamonds. If the global supply of rough diamonds continues to decline, it may lead to price increases for the diamond trade in the near term.

http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/english/News.aspx?boneID=918&objID=12914