Exclusive
Antwerp diamond trade volumes jump 20% in Q1 2026 as structural measures take hold
The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) reported a nearly 20% increase in total diamond trading volume for the first quarter of 2026, driven by a 35.7% surge in rough diamond imports.
27 april 2026
‘AI is the engine, diamonds are preserved upside down, copper currently the path to value’ – Botswana Minerals’ Campbell on strategy shift
Botswana Minerals has positioned itself as a data-led, multi-commodity explorer, placing copper at the centre of its growth strategy while retaining diamond assets for future upside, Managing Director James Campbell has told Rough & Polished. In an exclusive...
13 april 2026
Emanuel Vieira Lopes: Angola's new digital mining cadastre to reduce permit times by a third
Angola's new Digital Mining Cadastre (CMA) is on track to reduce average permitting timelines by one-third once fully deployed, according to Emanuel Vieira Lopes, Advisor to the Secretary of State for Mineral Resources. In an interview with...
06 april 2026
Paul Zimnisky warns diamond trade at "crossroads" as geopolitical tensions, pending De Beers sale, and LGDs reshape market
As geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East, diamond industry analyst Paul Zimnisky warns that the impact is most acute at trading hubs like Dubai, where flight cancellations and travel fears are keeping buyers away. In a wide-ranging interview...
30 march 2026
From Harry Oppenheimer’s Kimberley House to Hong Kong: SDT's Conrad Van Der Ross on 35 years in diamonds
South Africa's State Diamond Trader (SDT) operations manager Conrad Van Der Ross has witnessed the diamond industry transform over three and a half decades—from his nervous start as a De Beers trainee sorter in pre-democracy South Africa...
23 march 2026
Where the Western rare earth industry is headed without China’s raw materials
04 may 2026
In November 2025, China suspended some of the restrictions on exports of rare-earth elements (REEs, also called rare-earth metals, or rare earths) imposed in October and began granting the first ‘general licenses’ in December - individually, to specific foreign buyers. The easing of restrictions is valid until November 2026, so the pause is more likely to give some time to market players than to resolve the problem itself. The global race for rare earth metals continues, with the United States and the European Union remaining the main participants implementing projects both within their own territories and abroad. Let’s assess how far they have progressed in moving away from their dependence upon China.
Uncertainty Takes Over the Diamond Industry
27 april 2026
Some 17 years ago, in the aftermath of the financial crisis of late 2008 and in the ensuing recession in the United States and across Europe, as well as other parts of the globe, I had an idea for an article. I would base it on what was becoming known as the “new normal”. The financial situation had become very precarious following the enormous hits that the western economies had taken. It seemed that everything we knew about global finances was changing by the day.
No market enthusiasm for rising palladium price, as fundamentals remain unchanged
06 april 2026
The 90-percent surge in palladium prices over the past 12 months has been driven by trade barriers that forced to hold local stockpiles as a defensive measure, as well as by a general rise in prices for precious metals, with gold and silver as leading ones. Fundamental factors affecting the palladium market remain mixed. The demand in the automotive industry - the prevailing sector in the end-use of palladium - continues to experience structural pressure due to the accelerated adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), although stringent emission standards and reverse substitution in gasoline autocatalysts give a partial support. Primary palladium supply shows a slight decline, but secondary palladium supply has the potential for a significant growth due to increased recycling volumes.
Silver rally faces challenges, but the slowdown seems less likely than continued gains
16 march 2026
The underlying factors behind the rapid rise in silver prices have been in place for several years. However, it wasn't until 2025 that a turning point in investor buying occurred. This renewed interest faded amid uncertainty over US tariffs and the inclusion of silver on the US Critical Minerals List. These factors triggered significant inventory buildup on COMEX and led to tighter market conditions, which resulted in regional shortages and pushed the price up 147% year-over-year.
Who will actually be, and who will just pretend to be well-off?
06 february 2026
Synthetic diamonds are currently approximately 50 times cheaper than natural diamonds. However, such a difference between natural and synthetic diamonds is rarely found in jewelry today. This is because buyers worldwide have become accustomed to diamond jewelry being expensive. Therefore, it makes sense to avoid "disappointing" the buyers, and to continue offering synthetic diamond jewelry at a higher price. Even if these diamonds are not natural, but synthetic, and are much cheaper.
Gold royalty overhaul volte-face: Zimbabwe should learn to consult before making key decisions
21 january 2026
Zimbabwe's ambitious plan to capture more revenue from its booming gold sector through a reformed royalty regime faced immediate scrutiny from a major investor, highlighting the balancing act between increasing state income and maintaining a competitive investment climate. In a significant policy shift outlined in the 2026 National Budget, the government proposed harmonising and increasing royalties on gold producers.
Mine disruptions bring forward the copper supply vulnerability as recycling falls behind demand
12 january 2026
The year 2025 has proven to be fraught with accidents and disruptions at major copper mines. The Kamoa-Kakula complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s top five copper projects, owned by China's Zijin and Canada's Ivanhoe, has encountered a series of technical difficulties, which began with seismic activity and escalated into complex infrastructure problems.
Who will benefit from DRC’s tough measures to save the cobalt market?
29 december 2025
The global cobalt market is currently undergoing a transformation due to the actions of the main cobalt producer, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is transitioning to strict government export control due to a market glut and prices bottoming out in early 2025. These measures have since resulted in higher prices, but could negatively impact the demand for cobalt in the long term and make the DRC’s position worse.
Will the platinum shortage become elusive in 2026?
23 december 2025
Platinum price has risen by more than 65% since the beginning of the year as it was trading around $1,560 per ounce by early December. Despite the structural shortage, the market was very conservative in its outlook for platinum price growth, with the LBMA consensus forecast seeing an average price of $1,022 per ounce this year.
Once again Kimberley Process fails to expand conflict diamond definition
15 december 2025
The Kimberley Process (KP), the international body tasked with certifying rough diamonds, has once again ended its annual Plenary meeting without reaching a consensus on broadening the definition of conflict diamonds. The failure, announced after the meeting in Dubai in November, extends a long-standing deadlock that has plagued the industry for nearly a decade.
