This performance comes despite operational difficulties earlier in the year the company temporarily suspended mining at its Kagem Mining Limited mine in Zambia during the first half of 2025. CEO of product and sales at Gemfields, Adrian Banks, noted that firm pricing across all quality bands indicates that the market pressures seen in late 2024 and early 2025 have largely eased.

Thanks to this auction, Kagem’s total auction revenues for 2025 reached approximately US $79 million. Since its first sale in July 2009, Kagem’s 53 auctions have now generated a cumulative US $1.15 billion underscoring the long-term economic importance of Zambia’s emerald sector.

Why This Matters

• The strong auction result signals renewed global demand for natural emeralds, good news for Zambia’s gemstone industry.
• It helps restore confidence after a difficult period marked by mine suspension, suggesting that market conditions and buyer sentiment have stabilized.
• Given the size of the Kagem output and longstanding record of auction revenues, this outcome boosts Zambia’s position as a major supplier of coloured gemstones globally