Rio Tinto reported an 11% year-on-year rise in diamond production to 1.04 million carats in the first quarter of 2026, driven by output from its Diavik mine in Canada.
The increase comes even as the company moves toward the closure phase of Diavik, which delivered its final production during the quarter, marking a structural shift in Rio Tinto’s diamond portfolio.
Quarter-on-quarter, however, diamond output declined 6%, reflecting the mine’s gradual wind-down and operational sequencing.
Rio Tinto’s diamond segment remains a smaller contributor within its broader minerals portfolio, but the Diavik closure signals the end of a key chapter in its rough diamond supply.