S.A. diamond sales to take a dip

The World Diamond Center anticipates diamond sales in South Africa to slide both in value and volume. The decrease in value is expected to go down to 12 million carats a year from about 14 million carats, as previous. Sales value sales will also see a dip to $700 million annually. The slip in diamond sales follows the De Beers selling its Koffiefontein and Cullinan mines as well as tailings dumps in Kimberley. Also, the DTC intends to move its South African offices from Johannesburg to Kimberley to encourage sightholders to set up their plant bases over there.