DiamondBuzz
Israel Diamond Exchange quits WFDB amid tariff dispute
The Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) has suspended its membership in the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), citing dissatisfaction with the organisation’s conduct during the ongoing US import tariff crisis, Rapaport News reported.
In a letter to WFDB Secretary-General Rony Unterman on 8th April, the IDE board said the decision followed unanswered requests for information and actions that had harmed Israel’s diamond trade. IDE President Nissim Zuaretz told Rapaport the move was triggered by WFDB President Yoram Dvash’s comments in Calcalist, where he criticised country-specific lobbying and promoted a global strategy for tariff exemptions.
Zuaretz accused Dvash of trying to take credit for advocacy led by the World Diamond Council (WDC), potentially jeopardising Israel’s own efforts. Dvash denied the claims, telling Rapaport they were “untrue and frankly absurd,” and emphasised the WFDB’s ongoing collaboration with the WDC.
Zuaretz said the IDE would shift focus to partnerships with the WDC and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), while also saving over $29,000 in annual fees. Dvash described IDE’s withdrawal as “rash,” warning it could weaken global unity at a critical time for the industry.
DiamondBuzz
Alrosa Plans To Expand Diamond Production Through Severalmaz
Outlines An Expansionary Roadmap and Diversification Strategy Amid Market Volatility
Alrosa has confirmed a strategic pivot toward aggressive capacity expansion via its wholly-owned subsidiary, Severalmaz. Currently contributing approximately 10% to the Group’s aggregate output, Severalmaz is slated to become a primary engine for long-term value creation.
Despite prevailing macroeconomic headwinds and a softening in global demand for natural stones, Alrosa reported that the Lomonosov deposit maintained a stable production baseline, yielding an annualized run-rate of approximately 3.5 million carats through FY24 and FY25.
Key Strategic Pillars:
- Operational Resilience: CEO Pavel Marinychev emphasized that Severalmaz serves as a systemically important entity within the Arkhangelsk regional economy, providing a “solid foundation” for the Group’s multi-decade development cycle.
- CAPEX & Exploration: The firm is committed to significant capital expenditure directed toward greenfield exploration and the modernization of existing mining infrastructure to drive operational alpha and safety.
- Portfolio Diversification: To hedge against cyclical diamond market downturns, Alrosa is actively de-risking its balance sheet by diversifying into gold mining and offloading approximately 30% of its inventory to Gokhran to ensure consistent liquidity flows.
- R&D Synergies: The roadmap includes deep integration with regional scientific-industrial hubs to optimize extraction efficiencies and future-proof the production pipeline.
-
National News3 hours agoCelebrate Akshaya Tritiya With Reva Diamonds By PNGS
-
International News1 hour agoSotheby’s To Sell $15m Collection Of 300 Vintage Cartier Watches
-
ShowBuzz5 hours agoIGJS 2026 Opens in Jaipur: A Three-Day Showcase of Global Business and Artisanal Brilliance
-
ShowBuzz4 hours agoBvlgari’s Lucia Silvestri Gives Away Top Honours at The Artisan Jewellery Design Awards 2026
JewelBuzz is Asia’s First Digital Jewellery Media & India’s No.1 B2B Jewellery Magazine, published by AM Media House. Since 2016, we’ve been the trusted source for jewellery news, market trends, trade insights, exhibitions, podcasts, and brand stories, connecting jewellers, retailers, and industry professionals worldwide.