According to Rio Tinto‘s most recent production summary, diamond production will fall significantly in the second quarter of 2024. According to previously revealed data, diamond output declined to 702,000 carats in Q2 2024, from 970,000 carats in Q2 2023. This 28% decline is attributable to a fatal plane crash earlier this year and the end of A21 open-pit mining in the third quarter of 2023.
Rio Tinto‘s diamond production for the first half of 2024 was 1.44 million carats, a 25% decline from the 1.92 million carats produced in the first half of 2023. These unplanned events posed major production hurdles, particularly at the company’s Diavik mine.