Zimbabwe Looks to Double Diamond Exports in 2013

Eight million carats of rough diamonds harvested in Zimbabwe were exported from the country in 2012, and the government mining company wants to double that figure in the coming year, Mining.com reports. In total, Zimbabwe earned $684.5 million in revenues from the country's diamond exports, and state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation chair Goodwills Masimirembwa said that the goal is to double exports to 16.7 million carats in 2013.

Four diamond companies were responsible for the diamond exports, which contribute a significant portion of Zimbabwe's total budget. Mbada Diamonds led the list, bringing $308.3 million to Zimbabwe's coffers. Anjin followed with $209.9 million, The Diamond Mining Corporation brought it just over $100 million, and Marange Resources contributed less than a quarter million, according to Rough and Polished.

The hundreds of millions collected by Zimbabwe in 2012 were a major improvement over the miniscule $40 million it took in the year before.

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