Lucara Diamond Corp. (TSX: LUC), the Canadian mining company, has reported a robust first quarter of 2024 at its Karowe mine in Botswana, showing resilience in a challenging diamond market. Despite a slight decline in revenue compared to the same period last year, the company managed to increase its diamond output by approximately 12% and reduce operating costs by 2%.
In the first three months of the year, Lucara’s revenue dipped to $41.1 million from $42.8 million in the first quarter of 2023. William Lamb, the Chief Executive of Lucara, expressed satisfaction with these results, considering the downward pressure on rough diamond prices globally. He noted that the timing of production and the quantity of large diamonds unearthed contributed significantly to the quarter’s performance.
For Lucara, the year got off to a great start at the Karowe mine with numerous noteworthy discoveries. Notably, a 166-carat Type IIa diamond was recovered, and shortly after, a 320-carat top light brown gem-quality stone and another sizable 111-carat diamond were also found. These discoveries confirm the mine’s status as one of the most consistent producers of huge, superior-quality gemstones and demonstrate its capacity to produce high-value diamonds.
A significant polishing and trading company, HB Antwerp, and Lucara renewed their collaboration in February. Following a temporary break due to financial issues in September, this new 10-year deal will apply to all Karowe diamonds weighing more than 10.8 carats. For Lucara, this agreement is essential since it provides a reliable channel for their large stones, which are a significant part of the mine’s output.
Additionally, the Karowe mine’s underground extension project made headway during the quarter. This project is essential to the mine’s long-term viability. Production from this additional subterranean segment is expected to start in early 2028, according to Lucara, who promises a consistent output for many years to come.
Even with the mine’s encouraging progress, the quarter was difficult for the diamond market as a whole. Lucara observed that the market is generally cautious due to macroeconomic issues including rising interest rates and excessive inflation, which have reduced consumer demand in a number of important locations. Furthermore, traditional miners continue to face a great deal of difficulty as lab-grown diamonds become more and more popular and affordable.
Major diamond producers, including Anglo American’s De Beers and Russia’s Alrosa, have responded to these market conditions by cutting their output to manage excess inventory and stabilize prices. However, Lucara remains optimistic about the long-term prospects for mined diamonds, citing constrained new mine supply as a fundamental factor that will continue to support demand for natural stones.
