Botswana's Rough Exports Drop in 1H

RAPAPORT... Exports of rough diamonds that De Beers mined in Botswanadeclined 2.5% to $1.67 billion in the first half of 2018, according to data thenation's central bank released this week. Shipments fell 6% year on year to $758.1 million in thesecond quarter, after increasing 0.3% to $915.5 million in the first, the Bankof Botswana reported. The figures refer to goods that Debswana, De Beers' jointventure with the country's government, produces and sells to De Beers GlobalSightholder Sales and Okavango Diamond Company. They exclude shipments of otherstones De Beers sources from other countries and sells at sights in Botswana. De Beers' total rough-diamond sales were flat at $2.9billion in the first half, it reported last week. However, the average price ofDebswana goods fell 6% to $155 per carat.Image: Debswana