China slowdown dims Botswana�s minerals prospects

Sluggish: Demand for diamonds in he second half of 2015 is expected to be worse than the 2008 crisis
Sluggish: Demand for diamonds in he second half of 2015 is expected to be worse than the 2008 crisis

International demand for Botswana’s mineral dominated by diamonds, copper and nickel will remain comparatively weak in 2016, given forecast of a further slowdown in China’s economic growth, an international authoritative economic report predicts.

China is the second largest consumer of diamonds while it is the top buyer of   commodities such as copper and coal.

According to the report compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the impact of the softening in international demand was already evident in the first half of 2015, with Botswana’s earnings from rough diamond exports falling by 16.8 percent year-on-year to $1.7 billion (P17.6 billion).

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