Angola has announced plans to significantly reduce the volume of small rough diamonds entering the market from its two largest mining operations, Catoca and Luele, in a move aimed at supporting prices and preventing further oversupply in the global diamond pipeline.
The decision was confirmed by Elton Escrivão, Commercial Director of Endiama, Angola’s state-owned diamond company, during industry meetings held alongside JCK Las Vegas. According to Endiama, the reduction will initially remain in place for three months and will focus on smaller-size rough categories produced by the Catoca and Luele mines.
Escrivão stated that the measure is intended to “protect the value” of Angola’s production and support broader market stability. He also indicated that the restriction could be extended if market conditions require further intervention.
The announcement comes as Angola continues to expand its role in the global diamond supply chain. The country recorded rough diamond exports of 17.7 million carats in 2025, a 70% increase compared with the previous year, while overall production rose to 15.2 million carats. However, the average value of Angolan rough declined as production shifted increasingly toward smaller-size goods, a category that has faced sustained pressure due to weak demand and competition from laboratory-grown diamonds.
Industry participants have increasingly pointed to the growth in Angola’s output as a contributing factor to excess availability in the under-one-carat polished segment. The launch and ramp-up of the Luele mine, one of the world’s largest recent diamond discoveries, has significantly increased the country’s production capacity since commercial operations began in 2023.
The supply-control initiative aligns with broader efforts by major producers to balance rough availability against weaker downstream demand. While producers in Botswana, Russia and Canada have either reduced output or faced production constraints, Angola has been among the few major diamond-producing nations expanding supply.
Endiama has not yet disclosed the specific size ranges affected by the reduction or whether the strategy will involve lower mining volumes, deferred sales, or inventory accumulation. Additional details are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
For the global diamond trade, the move signals a growing willingness among producing nations to adopt supply-discipline measures as the industry works toward stabilizing rough and polished diamond prices.
