Diamond miner De Beers recorded $470-million of rough diamond sales in its fifth sales cycle of this year.
This is higher than the $385-million recorded in the fourth sales cycle of this year and significantly higher than the $56-million earned for the combined fourth and fifth sales cycles of 2020.
"With demand for diamond jewellery in the key consumer markets of the US and China continuing to be positive, and midstream capacity in India returning, we have seen strong demand for rough diamonds during the fifth sales cycle.
"Overall sentiment is increasingly optimistic as we move towards the second half of the year and, while risks as a result of the global pandemic persist, we have been encouraged by the condition of the market," CEO Bruce Cleaver comments.