Alrosa Notes Robust Demand at Big-Stone Sales

RAPAPORT... Alrosa garnered $37.8 million from three recent auctions of large rough diamonds, reporting steady demand for the category.The Russian miner sold 349 lots constituting more than 6,000 carats of goods, with each stone weighing 10.8 carats or more, it said Thursday. The auctions took place in Antwerp, Dubai and Ramat Gan during August and September, attracting more than 300 registered participants."August is traditionally considered a relatively quiet period," commented Evgeny Agureev, Alrosa's deputy CEO. "However, this year we saw a consistent demand for rough diamonds of high quality and price. At a time when international travel remains limited, there was strong interest in all three international auctions."Alrosa also launched an online auction in the second half of September in response to the robust market, the company added. This sale - which features expert evaluations, photographs and videos alongside the lot descriptions - runs until October 13.Image: Large rough diamonds. (Alrosa)