Diamonds production 49.5% up

First ever growth after 6 successive drops in 2024 Diamonds push up the overall mining production Local diamond production rebounded sharply in the third quarter of 2025, rising by almost 50 percent as mine operations returned to full capacity following a six-quarter downturn. Latest data from Statistics Botswana show that diamond output increased to 6.1 million carats in the third quarter of 2025, up from 4 million carats in the third quarter of 2024. The data mark a significant turnaround after six consecutive quarters of declining production since early 2024. Statistics Botswana attributed the improvement mainly to better plant performance, with diamond mines operating at full capacity during the period under review. A quarter-on-quarter comparison shows an even steeper increase, with production rising by 123.9 percent, or 3.39 million carats, from 2.74 million carats produced in the second quarter of 2025. The recovery follows a period of subdued output after Debswana Diamond Company scaled down production in response to weak global demand for natural diamonds. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Debswana reported that rough diamond production had fallen by 31 percent to 4.2 million carats. Late last year, the company also announced that its Cut 3 project would be deferred due to prevailing market conditions, although the Orapa Mine continues to operate under the current Cut 2 phase. Meanwhile, Statistics Botswana said the Index of Mining Production rose to 98.3 in the third quarter of 2025 from 71.5 recorded in the same period a year earlier, representing a year-on-year increase of 37.5 percent. Diamonds were the main driver of the growth, contributing 40.5 percentage points to the overall increase in mining production. In contrast, all other minerals made negative contributions, with copper in concentrates recording the steepest decline at 2.0 percentage points. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the mining production index increased by 89.2 percent, rising from 52.0 in the second quarter of 2025 to 98.3 in the third quarter, Statistics Botswana said. Other commodities The report noted that production of copper in concentrates declined by 14.5 percent, or 1,882 tonnes, from 13,001 tonnes in the third quarter of 2024 to 11,119 tonnes during the period under review. Quarter-on-quarter figures also showed a decline of 15.8 percent, or 2,079 tonnes, from 13,198 tonnes produced in the second quarter of 2025. Soda ash production similarly fell by 27.8 percent, or 23,769 tonnes, declining from 85,471 tonnes in the third quarter of 2024 to 61,702 tonnes in the third quarter of 2025. Statistics Botswana said soda ash output also dropped on a quarter-on-quarter basis, falling by 9.0 percent, or 6,077 tonnes, from 67,779 tonnes in the second quarter of 2025. The decline was largely attributed to changes in the scheduling of the annual maintenance shutdown.

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Diamonds production 49.5% up

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