Zimbabwe’s Diamond Exports Just Nosedived. Here’s Why

📅 Published: August 15, 2025

📰 Source: miningzimbabwe

Curated by AllZimNews.com

In 2024, Zimbabwe’s diamond extraction grew by 8% from 2023.

Yet, according to Rapaport data from the Kimberley Process, the total value of those exports sank to US$164 million, a 46% year-on-year drop.

The average price per carat fell to just US$31, the lowest among major global producers, and less than half the US$62 achieved in 2023.

For perspective, Botswana earned US$117 per carat, Russia US$89, Namibia an impressive US$417, and Lesotho US$333.

The contrast underscores Zimbabwe’s reliance on industrial-grade stones rather than high-value gem-quality diamonds.

While other African producers, such as Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, posted gains in per-carat values in 2024, Zimbabwe moved in the opposite direction, highlighting structural weaknesses in its diamond strategy.

The quality gap begins at the source.

Chiadzwa, Zimbabwe’s flagship diamond field, produces only about 12% gem-quality stones, compared to Namibia’s near-total gem-quality output.

This is why developments at Chimanimani, where trial mining by the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) has shown 50% gem-quality output, are being closely watched.

If scaled successfully, Chimanimani could help Zimbabwe lift its per-carat value, narrowing the gap with regional competitors.

Despite the H1 2025 export slump, the diamond sector is expected to grow production by 7% this year.

This growth will be driven primarily by ZCDC and Anjin Investments, which are both undertaking expansion projects.