De Beers sees diamonds recovering next year
Friday, August 02, 2024 | 660 Views |
Hopeful: Rowley sees an uptick taking place next year
The diamond retail market has been experiencing subdued demand since the second half of last year, causing the mid-stream to build up high inventories which have in turn forced producers such as De Beers to cut production.
Presenting the group’s interim financials for the first half last week, De Beers Vice President, Paul Rowley, said trading conditions for the diamond market remained difficult with jewellery sales in major markets such as China affected by poor macroeconomic conditions.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...