Botswana’s third-quarter diamond output fell 20 percent, with planned Jwaneng maintenance expected to drive production lower in the final quarter.
BONGANI MALUNGA
De Beers has warned of a further slowdown in Botswana’s diamond production before the end of 2026 after third-quarter output fell 20 percent year-on-year.
In its third-quarter production report released on Tuesday (October 20), De Beers revealed that Botswana’s rough diamond production fell to 4.83 million carats between July and September, compared to 6.03 million carats during the corresponding period in 2025.
The decline also represents a 12 percent drop from the 5.49 million carats produced during the second quarter of 2026, raising fresh concerns about the country’s diamond production outlook.
Orapa Slump
The biggest setback came from the Orapa mining operations, where production plunged 36 percent year-on-year, from 2.88 million carats to 1.85 million carats. De Beers attributed the contraction to planned plant maintenance, which significantly reduced output at one of Botswana’s major diamond-producing operations.
Jwaneng, meanwhile, recorded a comparatively modest five percent decline, producing 2.98 million carats against 3.15 million carats during the same period last year.
However, the mining giant has warned that Jwaneng’s performance could deteriorate substantially during the final quarter as scheduled maintenance takes effect. “Planned plant maintenance at Jwaneng in Q4 2026 is expected to substantially decrease production levels from Q3 2026 rates,” De Beers stated.
Further Slowdown
The warning signals another potentially difficult quarter for Botswana’s diamond sector, which remains central to the country’s export earnings and government finances.
Despite the latest quarterly contraction, Botswana’s cumulative diamond production for the first nine months of 2026 reached 15.13 million carats, representing a 14 percent improvement from 13.25 million carats recorded during the corresponding period last year.