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Alrosa & De Beers, rough diamonds
Mirny, Russia62.54°N 113.96°E
computed criticality17/100
reading
Russia ≈ 37.3 Mct produced in 2023 (33 % of the world's 111.5 Mct) ; Alrosa ≈ 34.6 Mct, ≈ 31 % of output
2023Fault line
In 2023 Russia produced about 37.3 Mct of rough diamonds, close to a third of the 111.5 Mct mined worldwide according to the Kimberley Process ; Alrosa, with roughly 34.6 Mct, is the largest single producer, ahead of De Beers (Anglo American) and Debswana in Botswana. Global supply was long steered by the De Beers cartel ; it remains highly concentrated across a few countries and two players. The lock is twofold: this mining concentration and the exposure to sanctions targeting Alrosa since 2022, which complicate the traceability and trading of Russian rough.
Actors
Alrosa
De Beers (Anglo American)
Debswana
Rio Tinto
Sources