Botswana Rough Exports Rise

Gaborone: Botswana’s rough diamond shipments increased 2.5% to $849.6 million in the first quarter, reflecting higher sales at De Beers, according to recent data from the Bank of Botswana.

Exports amounted to $243.1 million in January, $254.2 million in February and $352.3 million in March, figures showed.

The rise occurred amid a recovery in the market that saw De Beers’ rough sales increase an estimated 2% to $1.86 billion in the three sights that took place during the quarter. De Beers’ mines in Botswana accounted for 75% of the company’s rough production in 2016, reports by parent company Anglo American showed.

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