The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) says it traded Namibian diamonds valued at over N$1.98 billion (US$ 133 million) last year.
The Belgium-based AWDC is a public/private corporation, officially representing and coordinating the Antwerp diamond sector and last year traded in diamonds worth US$37 billion.
“AWDC is looking forward to continuing this trade relationship and discussing how Antwerp can do more for the Namibian diamond industry, by maximizing the value of Namibia’s precious resources via the Antwerp market,” AWDC CEO Ari Epstein told a Namibia delegation led by President Hage Geingob and Mines minister Tom Alweendo that had visited the centre.
“We are always delighted to show our valued partners how the Antwerp diamond trade works and to explain the reasons for its success. Through innovation, implementing the highest standards of due diligence, and creating a comfortable business environment, we succeed in building a robust home for diamond producers, traders, manufacturers, and retail.”
Epstein told the Namibian delegation that Antwerp demonstrates time and again that it is the most consistent, high-performing market for diamond trade, rough diamonds in particular.
“In the past two years, we saw how producing countries and miners, such as the Okavango Diamond Company of neighboring Botswana, deliberately chose to start selling their rough diamonds in Antwerp. By doing so, they were not only able to keep operations going, but more importantly, they realized a much welcome premium on sales results.”
AWDC Spokesperson Tom Neys said Namibia will realise better prices from its diamonds by selling the gems through the Antwerp market.
“We think the Namibian government is looking for more growth and to create more value with their diamond production and rightly so. That’s why this visit is so important, so that we show the president why Antwerp is able to consistantly offer top prices. We manage to sell rough diamonds at a 35% mark up in comparison to other trade hubs.”
“Other diamond producing countries like Botswana have already adapted their trade strategy and started to export more to Antwerp, because they saw the same remarkable benefits in their sales results. Showing the goods physically is essential. Our message to the president is clear: Talk to other countries that work with Antwerp, like Botswana and you’ll see that you create more value with the same trade today.”
Last year Namibia’s diamond production marginally increased to 1.467 million carats, compared to 1.448 million carats produced in 2020, according to De Beers figures.
In the 12 months to December 2021, Debmarine produced the bulk of the country’s diamonds, churning out 1.137 million carats from its marine diamond operations, marginally up from the 2020 production figure of 1.125 million.
De Beers in Namibia has land operations through Namdeb and marine operations through Debmarine.
