International News
Angola aims to increase annual production to 17.53m carats by 2027; become the world’s third largest rough producer.
Angola aims to increase annual diamond production to 17.53m carats by 2027, and to become the world’s third largest rough producer.It is forecasting a 50 per cent increase in diamond revenue this year from $1.4bn in 2024 to $2.1bn.
Angola has vast mineral wealth – including huge, unexplored diamond reserves – but the devastating civil war (1975 to 2002) has hampered its economic development.However, De Beers and Rio Tinto are now prospecting, and in November 2023 the new Luele (formerly known as Luaxe) mine opened. It will eclipse Catoca as the country’s biggest mine, and is expected to produce 6m carats annually.
As part of its National Development Plan 2023-2027, Angola plans to channel diamond mining revenues into food security, employment generation, and poverty reduction.It recovered 9.8m carats in 2023, maintaining its position as the world’s sixth biggest rough producer and was expected to produce up to 14.6 million carats in 2024.
International News
WGC Gold Demand Trends- Q1 2026: Bar and Coin Buying Drove Q1 Demand
Global Demand Hit a New Record High Value Total Q1 Gold Demand, Including OTC, was 2% Higher y/y at 1,231t
Total Q1 gold demand, including OTC, was 2% higher y/y at 1,231t. This modest growth in volumes, combined with gold’s exceptional price rise, generated a 74% jump in the value of quarterly demand to a record US$193bn.
Bar and coin demand of 474t (+42%) was the second-highest quarter on record. Asian investors led the charge, hoovering up gold investment products.
Buying of gold-backed ETFs continued in Q1 (+62t), but at a lower rate than the very strong Q1’25 (+230t) following sizable outflows from US funds in March.
Amid record high gold prices, jewellery demand volumes remained under pressure (-23% y/y), while levels of spend again increased (+31%), signalling continued positive sentiment towards gold jewellery.
Central banks bought 244t (+3% y/y) of gold on a net basis in Q1 despite a visible uptick in selling activity during the quarter.
Demand for gold used in technology edged 1% higher to 82t, fuelled largely by the continued growth in AI infrastructure.
Highlights
- The LBMA (PM) gold price set a new quarterly average record of US$4,873/oz. The price hit a historical high of US$5,405/oz in January, followed by a notable correction. During Q1, the gold price returned 6%.
- The supply of gold increased in Q1 by 2% y/y to 1,231t. Modest growth in mine production, together with a 5% uptick in recycling, generated the increase.
- Investment demand now far exceeds fabrication. Weaker jewellery demand alongside growing investor interest in gold has changed the composition of demand in recent years.
Outlook
- Geopolitics remain front and centre in our outlook for gold demand in 2026. Our view remains that investment and central bank demand will be supported by ongoing geopolitical risk, with further investment impetus from elevated inflation and persistent high gold prices. Jewellery demand will remain under pressure for similar reasons, albeit that spending will likely remain resilient.
-
International News1 hour agoWGC Gold Demand Trends- Q1 2026: Bar and Coin Buying Drove Q1 Demand
-
BrandBuzz1 hour agoJos Alukkas Partners with M4Marry to Celebrate New Beginnings Through ‘Second Sunrises’ Campaign
-
International News2 hours agoSingapore International Jewellery Expo Launches a New Brand Identity Ahead of its 2026 Edition
-
GlamBuzz3 hours agoDe Beers Group Honours Suryakumar Yadav With A 9-Carat Cricket-Inspired Natural Diamond Creation


