Botswana exported $2.42 billion worth of diamonds in the first half of 2011, a record level of exports ever for the African country, based on data published by the Bank of Botswana.
 
June’s exports rose by 380.5 percent to $670.8 million, another record high for Botswana. Month-over-month, exports increased by 44.5 percent.
 
Since the start of the year, Botswana has been steadily increasing its export activities. The country is the largest diamond producer by value and the second largest by volume.
 
For the first six months of the year, the country exported 33 percent more compared to 2010. The figures, which include rough and polished diamonds, reflect not only a rise in the amount of goods exported, but also rising diamond prices.
 
The half-year mark is much higher than past full annual exports and is near last year’s total exports of $2.86 billion. In 2010, Botswana produced more than 22 million carats, according to Kimberley Process records.
 
Botswana is therefore fast approaching record annual exports that may exceed $5 billion.
Botswana’s rough exports at record high
