Africa-Press – Angola. Angola sold, in 2023, around nine million 396 thousand carats of rough diamonds, corresponding to a gross value of 1.5 billion dollars (one dollar is worth Kz 832,633), representing an increase of almost 12%, compared to last year.
The information was provided in Luanda, by the Secretary of State for Mineral Resources, Jânio Correia Victor, noting that approximately nine million 396 thousand carats of rough diamonds were sold at an average price of USD 163 per carat.
When speaking at the ceremony to take stock of the production, commercialization and export of diamonds for the year 2023, the person responsible said that, of the total production, Sociedade Mineira do Catoca was the one that contributed most to production, with around 71% of the production.
The Secretary of State said that total production in 2023 represents a decrease of around 21%, compared to the established forecast.
“It is justified by several factors, with emphasis on the optimization and conditioning services of the Sociedade Mineira do Luele treatment center and the restructuring of some mining projects”, he said.
Diamond exports totaled 9.91 million carats, representing an increase of almost 12%, compared to 2022, with gross export revenue being 1.56 billion dollars, showing a reduction of approximately 20%, compared to 2022.
He explained that the reduction is justified by the drop in market prices compared to the previous year.
He pointed out that the main destinations for diamond exports were the United Arab Emirates, with 72%, and Belgium, with 26%.
As for the prospects, he indicated that the intention is to exceed 10 million carats of rough diamonds “and we hope, with this, to break the barrier of 10 and we expect to continue to rise”.
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