HARARE: Official diamond export statistics published by Zimbabwe’s statistical agency Zimstats recorded a sharp drop in export revenue through 2015, Diamond Intelligence reports.
In January, industrial diamond exports totaled $14.8, rising to $24.2 million in April but then dropping sharply to $1.3 million. September exports totaled $11.8 million – a drop of 20% since the beginning of the year.
The sharp drop is attributed to depletion of alluvial diamonds in the Marange mining area. The huge drop in in May is attributed to the government’s initial implementation of the consolidation of the country’s diamond mines.
