P11.5 billion worth of diamonds exported in first half-year

But the establishment of the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) Botswana in March saw diamond exports plunge by 21 percent in the second quarter of the year from the first quarter as the gems are now being first sold locally to the 16 licensed sightholders for polishing and cutting.

According to a Bank of Botswana June financial statistics report, which still only factors in exports of rough diamonds, exports of diamonds stood at P5.1 billion in the second three months of the year from P6.4 billion in the first quarter.