According to the corporation Anglo American, profits De Beers increased by 2% to $ 585 million during the first half of 2016 compared with $ 576 million a year earlier, having higher incomes due to the "strong" demand for rough diamonds, tight control over production costs and favorable exchange rates.
De Beers Total revenue increased by 8 percent to $ 3.3 billion, during the period compared to $ 3 billion a year earlier - mainly due to the increase of sales of rough diamonds, which rose by 11% to $ 3.1 billion.
The increase in rough diamond sales was due to the replenishment of inventories to falling in the middle segment of the diamond pipeline, combined with stable consumer demand in key markets.
Consolidated sales rose by 29 percent to 17.2 million carats in the first half of this year compared with 13.3 million carats recorded in the prior year.
"Sales of rough diamonds, as a rule, above [in the first half of the year] because of the tendency replenishment, - stated in a press release, De Beers, the Agency Rough & Polished. - This trend is likely to be more pronounced this year due to a strong first half and care experienced by the middle segment of the diamond pipeline. "
At the same time, as the Anglo American Corporation notes, De Beers diamond mining fell by 15%, to 13.3 million carats in the first half of 2016 compared to 15.6 million carats a year earlier, reflecting the company's decision to cut production in response to the prevailing trading conditions in the second half of 2015.
Of Debswana, a joint venture between De Beers and the Botswana government, registered a decline in production by 9% to 10.5 million carats, due to lower production at the mine Orapa (Orapa), while mine Damtshaa (Damtshaa) - adjacent to the production Orapa - was raised for maintenance from January 1, 2016.
In Namibia, the diamond mining company Namdeb Holdings also fell 17 percent to 700,000 carats, which was accompanied by a decrease in production in the company Debmarine Namibia as a result of the fact that the ship «Mafuta» runs a scheduled service time in the port, as well as due to the reduction of diamonds in the ore on land plants Namdeb.
De Beers Consolidated Mines South Africa recorded a 20 percent drop in production - up to 1.8 million carats - mainly in connection with the completion of the sale of the Kimberley mines in January last year.
In Canada, the diamond production decreased by 69%, to 300 000 carats, in connection with the transfer Snap Lake mine (Snap Lake) for maintenance in December 2015.
According to Anglo, the construction of the underground mine Venice (Venetia) in South Africa "successfully continued" shaft sinking and moved more than 1550 meters. Start of production at the mine is scheduled for 2022.
It is also expected that this year, De Beers is investing more than $ 100 million in the Forevermark brand, and the company hopes to repeat the generic marketing in order to increase consumer demand in key markets.
De Beers has also continued the implementation of industrial projects worth many billions of dollars on a plot of 8 Cut (Cut-8) mine Jwaneng (Jwaneng) in Botswana.
Gacho Quay (Gahcho Kué) $ 1 billion in Canada is said to be under construction is the largest diamond mine in the world and due to start production in the third quarter of this year, production of about 4.5 million carats of diamonds per year.
De Beers also increasingly investing in small-scale pilot projects to ensure that their commercial and economic viability.
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