Debswana 2020 Exports Down 30 per cent
January 31, 21
(IDEX Online) - Debswana, which controls most of Botswana's diamond production, saw rough exports down 30 per cent in 2020 as a result of the global pandemic.
Foreign sales were down from $3.05bn in 2019 to $2.02bn in 2020, according to the Bank of Botswana.
The country is the world's second largest producer of diamonds after Russia, and relies on them for 30 per cent of its revenue nationally.
The Botswana government and De Beers jointly operate the Debswana Diamond Company, which controls the Damtshaa, Jwaneng, Letlhakane and Orapa mines, on a 50/50 basis.
Botswana, which has had 21,293 Covid cases and 134 deaths, closed its border for most of 2020, barring international travelers from most of the De Beers Sights.