Botswana Faces Economic Strain as Global Diamond Slump Triggers Credit Rating Downgrade

Botswana’s Credit Rating Cut to BBB- as Falling Diamond Demand Pressures Economy and Foreign Reserves Recognized as Africa’s largest diamond producer, Botswana is facing mounting economic challenges as the prolonged downturn in the global diamond market continues to weigh on its financial stability. Reflecting these pressures, S&P Global Ratings has downgraded Botswana’s long-term sovereign credit rating from BBB to BBB-. The ratings agency indicated that the country’s mineral-dependent economy is likely to remain under strain

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De Beers Reduces Diamond Buyer List Amid Prolonged Industry Downturn

De Beers Cuts Sightholders to 50 as Diamond Industry Faces Weak Demand, Lab-Grown Competition and Market Volatility Global diamond producer De Beers Group has made one of the deepest reductions to its network of handpicked diamond buyers as the company navigates a prolonged downturn affecting the global diamond industry, according to people familiar with the matter. The company notified its customers known as sightholders  on Friday whether they would retain their status through formal letters

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Gem Diamonds Swings to Loss Amid Weak Diamond Market and Letšeng Impairment

Gem Diamonds Reports $104M Loss as Letšeng Diamond Mine Impairment and Weak Diamond Prices Hit Earnings London-listed Gem Diamonds reported a sharp decline in financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2025, as continued weakness in the global diamond market weighed on earnings. The company posted a loss of $9.1 million before exceptional items, compared with a profit of $8.1 million in 2024. After accounting for exceptional items, the attributable loss widened significantly to

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Lucara Unearths High-Quality Blue Diamond at Karowe Mine

Lucara Recovers Rare 36.92-Carat Blue Diamond from Karowe Mine in Botswana Lucara Diamond Corp has announced the recovery of a rare 36.92-carat blue diamond from its wholly owned Karowe Mine in Botswana. The stone has been classified as a high-quality Type IIb blue diamond among the rarest categories of diamonds globally. It was recovered using X-ray transmission (XRT) technology from ore sourced from the mine’s surface stockpiles. In addition to the blue diamond, Lucara Diamond

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S&P Global Downgrades Botswana’s Sovereign Ratings Amid Diamond Market Weakness

Botswana Credit Rating Cut to BBB- by S&P Global as Diamond Market Struggles Persist On Friday, S&P Global Ratings downgraded Botswana’s long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings to “BBB-” from “BBB”, citing structural weaknesses in the global diamond market that are expected to weigh on the country’s minerals-dependent economy for longer than previously anticipated The ratings agency also lowered Botswana’s short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings to “A-3” from “A-2” and

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De Beers Board Member Matome Tsholetsa Malema Passes Away

De Beers Board Member and Minerals Development Company Botswana CEO Matome Tsholetsa Malema Dies Global diamond miner De Beers Group has announced the passing of Matome Tsholetsa Malema, the chief executive officer of Minerals Development Company Botswana and a member of the De Beers board. Malema joined the De Beers board in 2023, where he brought extensive operational expertise gained through many years in the diamond mining industry. His experience was shaped by a range

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Sodiam Raises $25.8 Million in 16th Rough Diamond Auction

Angola’s Sodiam Generates $25.8 Million in Rough Diamond Auction, Surpassing Expectations Angola’s National Diamond Trading Company, Sodiam, raised approximately $25.8 million in its 16th auction of special rough diamonds, exceeding initial expectations by 22.97%, the company announced. According to a statement from Sodiam, the auction featured 74 special rough diamonds produced by several mining companies, including Furi, Somiluana, Cuilo Kwanza, Lulo, Kaixepa, Chitotolo, Mussende, Catoca, and Luele. A total of 2,560.17 carats were sold during

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Lucara Reports Lower 2025 Earnings as Karowe Underground Expansion Advances

Lucara Diamond Revenue Falls in 2025 as Botswana’s Karowe Underground Project Requires Additional Funding Canada-listed Lucara Diamond reported lower revenue and earnings for 2025 as the company continued advancing the underground expansion of its flagship Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana, while warning that additional financing will be required to complete the project. For the year ended December 31, 2025, Lucara sold 353,302 carats, down from 399,215 carats in 2024. Revenue declined to C$159.7 million, compared

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De Beers Reports $511 Million Loss in 2025 Amid Weak Global Diamond Demand

De Beers Posts $511M Loss as Chinese Demand Slows and U.S. Tariffs Hit Global Diamond Trade De Beers, Africa’s largest diamond producer, reported a substantial $511 million loss for 2025, compared with a $25 million loss in 2024. The sharp decline reflects weaker demand in China, U.S. tariff pressures, and softer global diamond prices affecting key operations in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Production and Operations Rough diamond production fell 12% to 21.7 million carats,

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Petra Diamonds Reports Stable EBITDA Despite Weaker Revenue in H1 2026

Petra Diamonds Posts $26M Adjusted EBITDA Amid Lower Revenue; Cullinan Blue Diamond Highlights Ore Quality London-listed Petra Diamonds has reported revenue of $100 million for the six months ended December 31, 2025, down from $115 million in the same period a year earlier. The company attributes the decline to the timing of tenders between December 2025 and January 2026. Strong Diamond Inventory and Product Mix As of December 31, 2025, Petra held 608,217 carats of

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