De Beers Group Communications – 2019 preliminary financial results

20 February 2020

Markets

A range of factors created significant challenges for rough diamond demand in 2019: in late 2018, stock market volatility and US-China trade tensions resulted in lower than expected holiday retail sales, which led to higher than anticipated stock levels in the industry’s midstream at the start of 2019. Throughout the course of 2019, the midstream inventory position was under further pressure due to the closure of some US 'bricks and mortar' retail outlets, an increase in online purchasing (where inventory levels are lower), and retailers increasing their stock held on consignment. Tighter financing also affected the midstream’s ability to hold stock, all of which resulted in lower demand for rough diamonds. 

In US dollar terms, global consumer demand for diamond jewellery was broadly flat in 2019. This was despite the challenges of increased uncertainty around the economic outlook owing to the continued US-China trade tensions, as well as the impact of the Hong Kong protests and certain macro-economic issues affecting consumer confidence in India. US consumer demand remained reasonably strong, but growth in local currency terms in China and Japan was offset by the strength of the US dollar, while demand from India and the Gulf declined.

Financial and operational overview

Total revenue decreased by 24% to $4.6 billion (2018: $6.1 billion), with rough diamond sales falling by 26% to $4.0 billion (2018: $5.4 billion). This was due to an 8% decrease in consolidated rough diamond sales volumes to 29.2 million carats (2018: 31.7 million carats) and a 20% reduction in average realised price to $137/ct (2018: $171/ct). The reduction in realised price was driven by a 6% decline in the average rough price index and from a lower value mix of diamonds sold, in response to the weaker demand for higher value diamonds. 

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