Editor’s Note
Angola’s diamond sector is on track for a record year, with production reaching 10.7 million carats in the first nine months of 2025. Despite falling global prices, the country maintains its ambitious annual target of 14.8 million carats.
Diamond production reached 10.7 million carats between January and September 2025, revealed Jânio Correa Victor, Secretary of State for Mineral Resources. Luanda has set a target of 14.8 million carats by the end of the year despite the fall in international diamond prices. Angola is heading for a record.
According to commodity market analysts, Angolan authorities have opted for the strategy of compensating for the drop in price and demand by increasing production volume. Luanda is thus taking the opposite approach of Botswana, Africa’s leading diamond producer.
In 2024, Angolan production jumped 44% year-on-year to reach 14.03 million carats. This momentum has not weakened this year thanks to the Catoca and Luele mines, which provided 91% of the country’s diamond production.
Endiama, the national company present in the shareholding of two projects, indicates this.
In contrast, Botswana’s production is declining due to the strategic choices of the De Beers group, from which 70% of the country’s production originates. To reduce global supply and support prices, De Beers has revised down its 2025 forecasts, now set between 20 and 33 million carats, compared to an initial range of 30 to 33 million.
The Angolan government has not given the reasons for its strategy focused on increasing production, even though the country is also impacted by the demand crisis in the diamond market. While the volume of Angolan exports increased by 109% compared to the first half of 2024, export revenues fell by 14%. The main outlets for diamonds are the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, and Hong Kong, which account for over 90% of Angolan exports.
Commercial conditions for rough diamonds remained difficult during the third quarter.