Moscow, 21 January 2022 – ALROSA, a global leader in diamond production, reports its 2021 diamond production of 32.4 m carats and sales of 45.5 m carats. Proceeds from rough and polished diamond sales totalled $4.2 bn.

Q4 and 12M 2021 trading update:

Q4 ore & gravels output declined by 19% qoq to 7.4 mt as a result of the seasonal discontinuation of production at the Mirny Division’s alluvial deposits and lower output at the V.Munskoye deposit due to the shift of the mining focus to stripping. The 33% yoy growth was driven by the launch of production at the Zarya and Zarnitsa pipes. 12M output increased by 12% to 33.5 mt on the Udachny UG mine restart and gradual ramp-up to its design capacity.
Q4 ore & gravels processing was down 44% qoq to 6.4 mt due to the seasonal halt in the processing of gravels from the Almazy Anabara alluvial deposits. The 31% yoy growth is explained by the low base effect from 2020 (suspension of processing plants No. 1 of Severalmaz and No. 14 of the Aikhal Division for scheduled preventive maintenance). 12M volumes increased to 30.9 mt (+4%).
Q4 diamonds output grew by 4% qoq to 9.1 m ct. The 29% yoy growth was due to ore processing volumes growth (Severalmaz and Aikhal) and a higher grade at the International UG mine. 12M output rose by 8% to 32.4 m ct, primarily due to higher volumes from the V.Munskoye and Nyurba Division deposits.
Q4 diamond grade was seasonally up 87% qoq (-1% yoy) to 1.43 cpt following the suspension of production at alluvials. 12M grade increased by 4% to 1.05 cpt as the share of gravel processing at low yielding Almazy Anabara dropped.
Q4 diamond sales saw a 3% qoq uptick to 9.4 m ct, incl. 0.5 m ct of diamonds purchased at Gokhran auctions in Q3 2021. The 45% yoy decrease was attributable to the high base effect of Q4 2020 (Q4 2020: 17.0 m ct, incl. 9.9 m ct from inventories) and minimum levels of rough diamond inventories available for sale since mid-2021. 12M diamond sales were up 1.4x to 45.5 m ct, incl. 1.4 m ct purchased at Gokhran auctions and 11.7 m ct from accumulated inventories. Gem-quality diamonds accounted for 67% of total sales (compared to 72% and 69% in 2019 and 2018, respectively).
Diamond inventories as at the end of Q4 amounted to 8.8 m ct (+0.2 m ct qoq). Ore and gravels inventories saw a seasonal increase to 11.8 mt (+0.8 mt qoq and +15% yoy).
In Q4, revenue per carat of gem-quality diamonds stood at $124/ct, down 9% qoq due to changes in the sales mix, incl. the resale of lower-size rough diamonds purchased at Gokhran auctions. The 36% yoy growth was driven by a 32% yoy increase in the price index. 12M revenue per carat was $128/ct, up 17% yoy on the back of a higher price index and changes in the sales mix.
Q4 average price index gained 6% qoq (+32% yoy). In 12M, the price index added 33% (December 2021 vs December 2020), exceeding the level of late 2018 by 6%; the average index change in 2021 was +12.5% yoy.
Diamond (rough and polished) sales in Q4 amounted to $895 m (-5% qoq and -27% yoy), incl. $844 m from rough and $51 m from polished diamond sales. The qoq and yoy changes are associated with the high base effect of the previous year, when most sales were made from the inventories, as well as the December trading session shifting towards the end of the month with sales partly moving to January 2022. 12M revenue surged by 49% to $4,169 m, incl. $3,977 m from rough and $192 m from polished diamond sales.
Unit

Q4 2021 Q3 2021 qoq Q4 2020 yoy. 12M 2021 12M 2020 yoy
Ore and gravels output mt 7.4 9.5 (22%) 5.6 33% 33.5 29.7 13%
see & read mre on
http://eng.alrosa.ru/alrosa-q4-and-12m-2021-operating-results/