De Beers Rough Diamond Output Rises 88% as Botswana Operations Drive Production Recovery
Global diamond producer De Beers has reported a significant increase in rough diamond production, with output rising 88% year-on-year to 7.8 million carats in the second quarter of 2026.
The increase lifted the company’s first-half production to 14.91 million carats, representing a 46% rise compared with the same period last year.
De Beers attributed the growth mainly to the recovery of production following the extended maintenance shutdown at its Orapa mine in Botswana in 2025, as well as higher-grade ore being processed at the Jwaneng mine in Botswana and the Gahcho Kué mine in Canada.
Botswana remained the company’s largest production contributor, with output increasing 107% year-on-year to 5.5 million carats in the second quarter.
First-half production from the country reached 10.3 million carats, up 43% from the previous year.
In Namibia, De Beers produced 500,000 carats during the quarter, largely unchanged from the previous year.
However, first-half production declined 7% to 1.09 million carats due to operational changes affecting marine mining activities and planned maintenance.
South Africa’s Venetia mine recorded a 24% year-on-year increase in second-quarter production to 700,000 carats, supported by higher volumes of underground ore processing. First-half output increased 37% to 1.47 million carats.
In Canada, production also improved, with Gahcho Kué benefiting from the planned processing of higher-grade ore from a new mining area.
Despite stronger production, De Beers said diamond market conditions remain challenging due to weaker consumer demand, economic uncertainty, and competition from laboratory-grown diamonds, particularly in lower-value diamond categories.
The company reported that its average realised diamond price declined 32% year-on-year to US$105 per carat during the first half of the year, reflecting changes in sales mix and lower rough diamond prices.
Rough diamond sales in the second quarter fell 7% to 7.1 million carats, while revenue dropped 44% to US$665 million.
For the first half of the year, sales volumes increased 20% to 14.78 million carats, but revenue declined 23% to US$1.31 billion.
De Beers maintained its full-year production guidance of between 21 million and 26 million carats, noting that planned maintenance at key Botswana operations and a planned production pause at Venetia will affect output in the second half of the year.
The company said it will continue adjusting production levels in response to market conditions as it navigates a challenging global diamond environment.
