Namibia’s diamond production declined slightly in 2025, with year-to-date output reaching 1.62 million carats, a 2% decrease from 1.65 million carats recorded during the same period in 2024.
According to De Beers’ latest quarterly production report, the drop was mainly due to lower marine mining activity, although land-based operations recorded stronger results.
Debmarine Namibia, which carries out offshore diamond recovery, produced 1.15 million carats, a 7% year-on-year decline. The decrease was attributed to vessel maintenance schedules and lower throughput during the period.
In contrast, Namdeb’s land-based operations posted a solid performance, producing 474,000 carats, up 13% from 420,000 carats in 2024, supported by improved operational efficiency and higher ore recovery at its onshore sites.
Meanwhile, De Beers reported stable diamond production in Namibia for the third quarter of 2025, with output remaining unchanged at 457,000 carats compared to the same period last year.
“Production in Namibia was flat at 0.5 million carats,” the report stated.
However, Namibia’s total diamond recovery fell 15% compared to the previous quarter, when 535,000 carats were produced. The decline was again linked to reduced output from Debmarine Namibia, which recovered 303,000 carats in the third quarter of 2025. While this represented a 2% year-on-year increase, it marked a 21% quarter-on-quarter decrease due to ongoing vessel maintenance and operational adjustments that temporarily affected throughput.
Namibia accounted for roughly 6% of De Beers’ total group output, which rose 38% year-on-year to 7.7 million carats, largely driven by increased production from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine.
De Beers said rough diamond trading conditions remained challenging during the quarter, as improved demand in the first half of the year was offset by new U.S. tariffs on diamond imports from India, the world’s main cutting centre. The inclusion of natural diamonds under the U.S. Tariff Annex III list in September, however, provided some relief by allowing tariff exemptions for certain countries.
The company maintained its 2025 production guidance at 20–23 million carats on a 100% basis and its unit cost guidance at approximately US$94 (about N$1,790) per carat, signalling steady expectations for Namibian operations despite volatile global conditions.
“Production guidance for 2025 is unchanged at 20–23 million carats (100% basis). De Beers continues to monitor rough diamond trading conditions and will respond accordingly. Unit cost guidance for 2025 is unchanged at approximately US$94 per carat,” the report read.
