DiamondBuzz

Rio Tinto Reports 37% Drop in Diamond Revenue for 2024

Challenges at Diavik mine and broader market conditions lead to significant financial loss in Rio Tinto’s diamond segment.

Published

2 years ago

February 21, 2025

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Rio Tinto’s diamond revenue for 2024 fell by 37% to $279 million, largely driven by difficulties at its Diavik mine in Canada and the broader downturn in the diamond market. The company reported a loss of $127 million for the diamond segment, a sharp contrast to the previous year’s underlying earnings of $26 million. Despite the tough market conditions, Rio Tinto reaffirmed its focus on responsible sourcing and operational efficiency as key priorities moving forward.

The year was further marked by a tragic incident at the Diavik mine, where several team members were among the victims of a plane crash in January. This added to the operational challenges faced by the company during an already difficult period. Despite these setbacks, Rio Tinto has emphasized its commitment to managing the operation responsibly and efficiently, as it navigates the ongoing industry challenges.

With a challenging market outlook and operational difficulties, Rio Tinto continues to focus on adapting to market conditions while upholding its dedication to sustainable and ethical practices in diamond mining.

Related Topics:2025 DiamondIndustry DiavikMine internationalnews rio

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DiamondBuzz

De Beers Cuts Diamond Production But Sees Sales Rise

The Main Reasons For The Drop Were Planned Repair Work In Botswana and Slower Operations At Its Venetia Mine In South Africa. Demand For Diamonds Grew In The US and India.

Published

2 days ago

October 23, 2026

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De Beers produced 11% fewer diamonds in the third quarter of 2026 compared to last year, bringing total production down to 6.8 million carats. The main reasons for the drop were planned repair work in Botswana and slower operations at its Venetia mine in South Africa before it temporarily pauses production for two years.

Despite lower production, overall diamond trading improved. Demand for diamonds grew in the US and India, and the market became better balanced. However, lab-made diamonds continued to hurt sales of cheaper natural diamonds.

Production Highlights by Country

Botswana: Down 20% to 4.8 million carats due to maintenance at the Orapa mine.

South Africa: Down 37% to 418,000 carats as the Venetia mine slowed down.

Namibia: Up 8% to 495,000 carats.

Canada: More than doubled to 1.06 million carats because the Gahcho Kué mine processed higher-quality ore.

On October 16, De Beers took full ownership of Canada’s Gahcho Kué mine after taking over its partner Mountain Province’s 49% share. Starting in the fourth quarter, De Beers will report all production from this mine on its own books. This will raise De Beers’ official production numbers, but it will not change the overall amount of diamonds in the world market.

Sales Revenue: Reached $731 million for the quarter, up 4% from $700 million last year.

Sales Volume: Nearly doubled to 8.7 million carats, up from 4.6 million carats a year ago.

Even though sales volume went up, the average price De Beers received per carat so far this year fell 37% to $97. This was caused by an 18% drop in overall rough diamond prices and the fact that De Beers sold a higher proportion of cheaper diamonds this year.

Because De Beers now owns 100% of the Gahcho Kué mine, it raised its full-year 2026 production target to 25–28 million carats (up from 21–26 million). It also lowered its expected production cost from $80 to about $70 per carat. The company said it will keep watching market demand and adjust its production as needed.