WORLD’S TOP DIAMOND PRODUCER POSTED FALL IN PROFIT
De Beers, the world's top diamond producer, said demand should pick up in the second half meaning it will not need more shareholder loans, when reporting tough markets had all but wiped out first-half profit, foreign media reports.
De Beers, 45 percent-owned by mining group Anglo American “AAL.L”, said demand was still subdued in the huge U.S. market that accounts for half of all diamond jewellery sales
The firm, which controls about 40 percent of the rough diamond market, posted a 99 percent fall in first-half net profit to $3 million (1.82 million pounds) on Friday.
Russian producer of diamonds “ALROSA” also reported to have loss of 1.969 billion rubles. The company says they have come out of the international market to keep the diamond prices from reduction.