Outlook 2020: Diamond crisis averted, bigger crisis looms – by Michael McCrae (Kitco News – December 26, 2019)

https://www.kitco.com/

(Kitco News) – The closing of the Argyle Mine in Australia should jump-start the suffering diamond market, said Paul Zimnisky, independent diamond analyst and consultant, who talked to Kitco earlier this month.

Last month, Rio Tinto announced November’s tender from its exhausted Argyle Mine, which produces around 90% of the world’s pink diamonds, which are the most expensive gems on the market. Argyle mine is also the world’s biggest diamond producer by volume, largely accounting for low-value diamonds.

“I think that’s probably by far the most anticipated supply catalyst for the industry,” said Zimnisky. Oversupply hit the diamond market hard in 2019. De Beers reported a 26% revenue drop, and Quebec diamond-producer Stornoway was forced to file for creditor protection due to weak revenues.

With Argyle gone and other smaller mines closing, Zimnisky forecasts that fewer diamonds should lead to higher prices. “I think diamond prices in general have been relatively disappointing over the last decade mostly due to an oversupplied market, and now I think we’re starting to see the opposite happen,” said Zimnisky. “Just as a result of natural depletion, I think the supply picture looks pretty good.”

Zimnisky said forecasting demand is tricky. Marriage rates are no longer a driver of diamond demand due to changing social norms. In research published earlier this year, De Beers noted that while marriage rates are declining, co-habiting couples are still buying diamonds.

For the rest of this article: https://www.kitco.com/news/2019-12-26/Diamond-crisis-averted-bigger-crisis-looms.html