Sourcing

De Beers’ Ninth Cycle Sales Fall Short

SourcingNov 21, 2018

De Beers’ Ninth Cycle Sales Fall Short

They totaled $440 million, compared with $466 million in the same period last year.

2017_Diamond-sorting-De-Beers.jpg
De Beers’ latest round of sightholder and auction sales brought in $440 million, falling short of the $466 million sold during the same period last year. The slowdown in sales of smaller goods continues to impact the diamond miner and marketer’s results.

Gaborone, Botswana—De Beers’ latest round of sightholder and auction sales totaled $440 million, 6 percent lower when compared with the same period last year.

The company continues to grapple with a slowdown in sales of smaller stones, due in part to financing issues in India in the wake of the $2 billion banking scandal linked to diamantaire Nirav Modi, though De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver said sales in this area have picked up.

“As the industry’s focus turns toward the key end-of-year retail selling season, rough diamond sales continued to be in line with expectations during the ninth cycle of the year,” he said.

“While demand for smaller, lower-quality rough diamonds continues to see some challenges, the latest cycle saw some signs of improvement in this area as factories in India begin to reopen after Diwali.”

De Beers revised its sales figure for the eighth cycle upward, from the provisional total of $475 million reported in October to $482 million.

Here’s how De Beers’ sales compare so far this year.

               2017               2018 First sales cycle                   $729 million                          $672 million                             Second $553 million $563 million Third $586 million $524 million Fourth $522 million $554 million Fifth $541 million $581 million Sixth $576 million $533 million Seventh $507 million $503 million Eighth $376 million $482 million Ninth $466 million $440 million (provisional) Tenth $455 million
The company’s 2018 sales total $4.85 billion to date and remain on par with 2017 sales.
Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.

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