Chamwe Kaira
Namibia’s diamond production fell by 7% to 2.1 million carats in 2025 as Anglo American continued restructuring its diamond unit, De Beers, amid weaker global demand for rough stones.
According to Anglo American’s 2025 Integrated Annual Report, De Beers produced 21.7 million carats during the year, down 12% from 24.7 million carats in 2024. The company cut production across Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Canada to align outputs with market demand.
In Namibia, output declined mainly due to lower production at Debmarine Namibia.
The decommissioning of the Coral Sea and Grand Banks mining vessels reduced volumes. Higher-grade ore and improved recoveries at Namdeb, the land-based joint venture between De Beers and the Namibian government, partly offset the decline.
De Beers produces about one-third of the world’s rough diamonds by value in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Anglo American holds an 85% stake in the business.
The group is moving ahead with plans to separate De Beers from Anglo American through a divestment or a demerger. The company said the move will allow De Beers to unlock value from its “Origins” strategy announced in May 2024, which focuses on streamlining operations and strengthening demand for natural diamonds.
Anglo American said De Beers’ portfolio includes large, long-life mining assets with life-extension potential. The company noted that few new kimberlite discoveries have been made in recent years, apart from a recent find in Angola.
In Botswana, production fell 16% to 15.1 million carats due to planned reductions at Orapa, extended maintenance downtime and the transition of the Letlhakane Tailings Treatment Plant to care and maintenance. The company had already scaled down output at Jwaneng in 2024.
South Africa’s Venetia mine produced 2.2 million carats as its underground project progressed. Canada’s output declined by 7% to 2.2 million carats due to the planned processing of lower-grade ore.
De Beers also advanced its brand strategy. De Beers London refreshed its identity and expanded its retail footprint with new franchised stores in Dubai and Manchester. It opened a flagship store in Paris in January 2026. Forevermark continued its shift to a premium De Beers-owned jewellery retail brand in India while phasing out its former global licensing model.
De Beers reported more than US$100 million in cumulative overhead cost savings under its multi-year streamlining programme.
