De Beers expects diamond demand to rebound
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
De Beers’ executive head of strategy, Bruce Cleaver told the media at a conference call last Friday that although rough diamonds demand is likely to remain constrained for the year as a whole, the long-term future of the diamond industry still looks good.
“The diamond industry began to face pressures in the fourth quarter of 2014 as consumer demand growth was softer than expected and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) backlog was cleared,” he said.
While the political shift brings hope for change, it also places immense pressure on the new administration to deliver on its election promises in the face of serious economic challenges.On another level, newly appointed Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s grim assessment of the country’s finances adds urgency to the moment. The budget deficit, expected to be P8.7 billion, is now anticipated to be even higher due to underperforming diamond...