Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KINSHASA183
2007-02-15 15:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
DRC'S DIAMOND EXPORT DOWN, COPPER PRODUCTION UP
how-toVZCZCXRO9010 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHKI #0183 0461501 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 151501Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5612 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000183
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EMIN ETRD ECON CG
SUBJECT: DRC'S DIAMOND EXPORT DOWN, COPPER PRODUCTION UP
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000183
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EMIN ETRD ECON CG
SUBJECT: DRC'S DIAMOND EXPORT DOWN, COPPER PRODUCTION UP
1. (U) Summary. Official diamond exports dropped in 2006,
while Gecamines' (DRC's copper/cobalt mining parastatal)
copper production rose. Gecamines, however, met neither its
copper nor cobalt production targets. End summary.
DIAMOND EXPORT
--------------
2. (U) The GDRC released its official 2006 diamond export
statistics on February 10, indicating that 2006 export totals
have dropped. According to the CEEC, the DRC's diamond
evaluating and export authority, total export was 28.3
million carats at a value of USD 672 million, against 31.7
million carats in 2005, at a value of USD 885 million. These
figures represent a decline from 2005 of nearly 11 percent by
weight and 22.8 percent by value. Most notably, exports from
MIBA (the DRC's diamond mining state enterprise) declined by
over half; the parastatal exported 2.2 million carats in 2006
and 4.6 million in 2005.
3. (U) The weight of exported gem-quality diamonds decreased
by three percent compared with 2005, while value fell by 19.6
percent. The weight of exported industrial-grade diamonds
fell by 12.1 percent, while the value plummeted by 28
percent. Industrial diamonds comprised 85.5 percent (24.4
million carats) of the total export weight.
COPPER AND COBALT PRODUCTION AND EXPORT
--------------
4. (U) In 2006 Gecamines produced 24,200 metric tons (MT) of
copper, an increase over its 2005 total of 17,134 MT,
according to statistics from Gecamines, DRC's copper/cobalt
mining parastatal. Gecamines' 2006 copper production target
was 30,730 MT. 2006 cobalt production was 749 MT, lower than
both the 2005 total of 1,385 MT and the 2006 target of 3,964
MT.
5. (U) According to the Congolese Central Bank, official
copper export through November 2006 was 30,880 MT, while
total cobalt export was 9,064 MT and zinc was 26,623 MT.
Year-end figures are not yet available. These preliminary
figures indicate an official increase in export over 2005,
when the BCC recorded total copper export of 26,389 MT, 8,234
MT of cobalt and 15,110 MT of zinc. Despite the increases,
copper export is still far below the DRC's production in the
1980s, when more than 400,000 MT copper per year was exported.
MEECE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EMIN ETRD ECON CG
SUBJECT: DRC'S DIAMOND EXPORT DOWN, COPPER PRODUCTION UP
1. (U) Summary. Official diamond exports dropped in 2006,
while Gecamines' (DRC's copper/cobalt mining parastatal)
copper production rose. Gecamines, however, met neither its
copper nor cobalt production targets. End summary.
DIAMOND EXPORT
--------------
2. (U) The GDRC released its official 2006 diamond export
statistics on February 10, indicating that 2006 export totals
have dropped. According to the CEEC, the DRC's diamond
evaluating and export authority, total export was 28.3
million carats at a value of USD 672 million, against 31.7
million carats in 2005, at a value of USD 885 million. These
figures represent a decline from 2005 of nearly 11 percent by
weight and 22.8 percent by value. Most notably, exports from
MIBA (the DRC's diamond mining state enterprise) declined by
over half; the parastatal exported 2.2 million carats in 2006
and 4.6 million in 2005.
3. (U) The weight of exported gem-quality diamonds decreased
by three percent compared with 2005, while value fell by 19.6
percent. The weight of exported industrial-grade diamonds
fell by 12.1 percent, while the value plummeted by 28
percent. Industrial diamonds comprised 85.5 percent (24.4
million carats) of the total export weight.
COPPER AND COBALT PRODUCTION AND EXPORT
--------------
4. (U) In 2006 Gecamines produced 24,200 metric tons (MT) of
copper, an increase over its 2005 total of 17,134 MT,
according to statistics from Gecamines, DRC's copper/cobalt
mining parastatal. Gecamines' 2006 copper production target
was 30,730 MT. 2006 cobalt production was 749 MT, lower than
both the 2005 total of 1,385 MT and the 2006 target of 3,964
MT.
5. (U) According to the Congolese Central Bank, official
copper export through November 2006 was 30,880 MT, while
total cobalt export was 9,064 MT and zinc was 26,623 MT.
Year-end figures are not yet available. These preliminary
figures indicate an official increase in export over 2005,
when the BCC recorded total copper export of 26,389 MT, 8,234
MT of cobalt and 15,110 MT of zinc. Despite the increases,
copper export is still far below the DRC's production in the
1980s, when more than 400,000 MT copper per year was exported.
MEECE