Final data on Botswana's diamond exports for 2010 is still being compiled, but if projections prove accurate, this past year could mark a record high, the Botswana news website Mmegi.bw reports.

In the pre-crisis years of 2007 and 2008, Botswana exported 33.6 million carats of rough diamonds worth $3.06 billion and 32.6 million carats worth $3.10 billion, respectively. Whereas between January and November 2010, the country's diamond exports totaled $2.95 billion, raising expectations that the entire year's exports will total $3.28 billion.

During the first 10 months of 2010, Botswana exported $2.36 billion worth of diamonds, making the 2010 average monthly value of diamond exports $236.1 million – nearly twice the average monthly export figures for 2009.

Mmegi notes that the diamond trade export figures are even more impressive in light of the fact that Debswana's diamond production for 2010 is still projected to be some 30% lower than in 2008.