Subject: Diamonds from the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a flourishing export in the first quarter of 2023
Introduction :
In the first quarter of 2023, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) experienced a booming diamond export. According to figures from the Ministry of Mines, the total volume exported amounts to 165,816.30 carats, generating revenue of around US$20,835,499.26 million. This success can be explained by the combination of artisanal and industrial mining, which both contributed significantly to this performance. Let’s find out in detail the figures for this diamond export and the impact of the mining industry in the DRC.
Artisanal mining: a key driver
Artisanal mining played a key role in diamond production in the DRC in the first quarter of 2023. It represents 76.40% of total production, with a volume of 1,554,858.73 carats. This activity generated revenues estimated at US$16,797,001.72 million. The artisanally mined diamonds come mainly from the provinces of Kasaï-Oriental, Kasaï-Central and Kasaï, which alone total a production of more than 1.5 million carats.
Industrial logging: a growing sector
Industrial diamond mining in the DRC also contributed significantly to the export in the first quarter of 2023. It represents 23.57% of total production, with a volume of 479,605.11 carats, and generated revenues of US$4,038,497.54 million. Two companies stand out in this sector: Société Anhui Congo d’Investissement Minier (SACIM) and Minière de Bakwanga (MIBA). SACIM is responsible for 96.53% of industrial production, with 462,940.99 carats, while MIBA contributes with 16,664.12 carats, or 3.47%.
Semi-industrial mining: a discreet presence
Semi-industrial diamond mining in the DRC is positioned with a low market share of 0.03%. It nevertheless allowed a production of 626.87 carats. Although its impact is less, it is important to underline the importance of supporting and developing this activity to diversify the sector and promote a more balanced growth of the diamond industry in the DRC.
The producing provinces
By analyzing the distribution of artisanal production, we see that the provinces of Kasaï-Oriental, Kasaï-Central, and Kasaï are the main extraction areas with respective volumes of 1,494,769.87 carats (96.14% ), 23,465.29 carats (1.51%) and 27,784.49 carats (1.79%). The provinces of Kwango, Tshopo and Kwilu also contribute, although in a more modest way, with respective volumes of 7,003.38 carats, 666.15 carats and 1,140.75 carats.
Conclusion :
The export of diamonds to the DRC in the first quarter of 2023 reflects the vitality of the Congolese diamond industry. Artisanal mining, the main supplier of diamonds, and industrial mining have both played a major role in this success. By diversifying the players and encouraging the development of semi-industrial mining, the DRC can ensure a sustainable and balanced growth of its diamond industry. This is a real opportunity for the country, both economically and socially, to maximize the benefits of this precious resource.