International News
Kagem to recommence focused open-pit mining
Gemfields is pleased to announce that Kagem Mining Limited (‘Kagem’), the emerald mine in Zambia which is 75% owned by Gemfields and 25% owned by the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia (‘IDC’), will shortly recommence a programme of focused open-pit mining to recover more premium emeralds.
As announced on 23 December 2024, alongside other cost cutting measures, Kagem suspended all mining from 1 January 2025 to focus on processing ore from Kagem’s significant ore stockpile utilising the upgraded processing plant.
Emerald production from the processing plant in 2025 so far, in terms of carats recovered, has been in-line with the Company’s expectations, producing a lower proportion of higher-quality or premium emeralds than direct open-pit mining methods.
Kagem’s recent auction results, including the encouraging commercial-quality auction results released on 30 April 2025, has increased management confidence in the current emerald market and the decision has therefore been taken to recommence mining of two key production points in the Chama pit, with minimal waste mining, to recover premium emeralds for Kagem’s future higher-quality auctions. The decision to recommence full scale mining will continue to be assessed as market conditions develop.
Swarovski’s turnaround is sparkling brighter than ever, clocking 6% year-on-year organic growth in 2025 as its bold “LUXignite” strategy ignited real dividends. The Austrian family gem generated €1.97 billion ($2.26 billion) in revenue, fueled by its global network of 2,300 boutiques.
Pioneering “pop luxury” since 2022, the precision-cut crystal powerhouse shifted gears to jewelry-led dominance, supercharged by Grammy queen Ariana Grande’s 2023 ambassador gig—fusing high fashion with pop culture magic.
CEO Alexis Nasard said, “Our consistent progress continued in 2025 despite a challenging environment, as we delivered broad-based topline growth, strengthened profitability, and improved cash generation, while reaching new heights of brand desirability and anchoring the Swarovski brand as a cultural icon in the pop luxury space. The execution of the LUXignite strategy is delivering as intended.”
Growth lit up everywhere: Growth was broad-based across all regions and channels, led by North America, which rose 10%. The company also saw strong performance in its directly operated channels, including branded boutiques and its e-commerce platform. Swarovski said its business-to-consumer jewelry division continued to outperform the broader market, while its B2B segment benefited from renewed commercial plans and optimized manufacturing capacity. EBITDA climbed 12% on robust cash flows.
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