While global diamond markets continue to grapple with dampened demand and supply-side caution, Namibia has emerged as a beacon of stability.
In the first quarter of 2025, the country produced an impressive 631,584 carats of rough diamonds, according to Anglo American, parent company of diamond giant De Beers.
The lion’s share of this production came from Debmarine Namibia — a pioneering offshore mining venture between De Beers and the Namibian government — which yielded 461,395 carats. Namdeb’s land-based operations contributed a further 170,189 carats, rounding out a strong performance that shows a slight increase from the 584,000 carats produced in the final quarter of 2024.
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This consistency stands in stark contrast to De Beers’ global production trend, which declined by 11% year-on-year to 6.1 million carats. Strategic production cuts have been implemented across the portfolio as the company responds to soft demand and cautious midstream sentiment in the diamond sector. Botswana’s production slipped 8%, South Africa’s fell by 19%, and Canada saw a steep 40% drop.
Despite subdued sales and global uncertainty — including fears over the impact of US tariffs and persistently high inventories of polished diamonds — Namibia’s performance has been a bright spot. De Beers’ revenue from two Q1 trading events reached US$520 million, significantly down from US$925 million in the same period last year, yet the company has retained its full-year production guidance of 20 to 23 million carats.
As the global diamond sector waits for clearer signs of recovery, Namibia’s steady hand and high-quality output may prove critical in anchoring De Beers’ ambitions in a volatile market.
