Namibia’s diamond production fell 7% to 1.09 million carats during the first half of 2026, as lower offshore output at Debmarine Namibia offset stronger production from Namdeb’s land operations, according to Anglo American’s second-quarter production report.
Diamond production totalled 531,000 carats during the three months to June, down 1% from 535,000 carats in the corresponding period of 2025 and 4% lower than the 556,000 carats produced in the first quarter. First-half production declined from 1.17 million carats a year earlier.
Anglo American attributed the weaker performance to planned maintenance at Debmarine Namibia’s Mafuta mining vessel and the retirement of the Coral Sea vessel, although the impact was partly offset by higher-grade mining at Namdeb.
“Production in Namibia was broadly unchanged at 0.5 million carats. The retirement of the Coral Sea vessel in the comparative period and planned maintenance of the Mafuta vessel at Debmarine Namibia were largely offset by the planned mining of higher-grade areas at Namdeb,” the company said.
Debmarine Namibia produced 370,000 carats during the quarter, down 4% year-on-year from 385,000 carats, although output improved 5% from the previous quarter. Namdeb’s land operations increased production by 7% year-on-year to 161,000 carats, but this was 20% lower than in the first quarter.
Namibia’s performance contrasted with De Beers’ global operations, where rough diamond production surged 88% year-on-year to 7.78 million carats, driven by significantly higher output in Botswana and Canada.
Production in Botswana more than doubled to 5.49 million carats, while Canada’s output rose 185% to 1.03 million carats, reflecting the resumption of operations following maintenance shutdowns and mining of higher-grade ore.
Despite the increase in production, Anglo American said market conditions for rough diamonds remained weak during the first half of the year.
The group’s consolidated average realised diamond price fell 32% to US$105 per carat, from US$155 per carat a year earlier, while the average price index declined 16% to 69.
Consolidated rough diamond sales revenue dropped 44% year-on-year to US$665 million in the second quarter as sales volumes fell 11% to 6.04 million carats.
“Rough diamond trading conditions remained challenging in the first half of 2026. The geopolitical and macroeconomic landscape remains uncertain, with the onset of the conflict in the Middle East adding to economic and consumer confidence risks. Synthetic lab-grown diamonds also continued to affect demand for lower-value natural diamonds, adding pressure in more price-sensitive categories. However, stronger pricing for higher-value goods supported a stable overall average price index throughout the period,” Anglo American said.
The company maintained De Beers’ 2026 production guidance of 21 million to 26 million carats, but said planned maintenance at the Orapa and Jwaneng mines in Botswana, together with a proposed production pause at the Venetia mine in South Africa, is expected to reduce output during the second half of the year as production is aligned with market demand
