The company upped its 2022 production guidance despite warning of a potential slowdown in diamond jewelry sales. Here’s why.
De Beers Group is increasing is 2022 production guidance, citing the ongoing sanctions against Russia and continued development of provenance platforms like Tracr, which it says can track diamonds from mine to market.
In reporting its second-quarter production results last Thursday [July 21], De Beers said it is increasing its 2022 guidance to 32-34 million carats, up from 30-33 million carats.
“While consumer demand for natural diamonds continued to be robust in the first half, a deterioration of global macro-economic conditions and reduced consumer spending could impact demand for diamond jewelry,” the company said.
“Despite this, the combination of ongoing sanctions against Russia, decisions from a number of U.S.-based jewelry businesses to apply their own restrictions on purchases of Russian diamonds, and continued development of provenance initiatives has the potential to underpin continued demand for De Beers’ rough diamonds.”
De Beers said rough diamond sales totaled 9.4 million carats from three sights in the second quarter, up from 7.3 million from two sights in Q2 2021 and 7.9 million from two sights in Q1 2022.
Diamond prices also continue to rise.
De Beers’ average realized price has increased 58 percent in the first half of the year to $213/carat (H1 2021: $135/carat).
The rough diamond price index is up 28 percent, reflecting consumer demand as well as tight supply across the value chain.
While De Beers aims to increase production for 2022, treatment of lower-grade ore at its operations in Botswana and Canada led to a dip in Q2.
The company’s rough diamond production was down 4 percent year-over-year to 7.9 million carats compared with 8.2 million carats in Q2 2021.
