ALROSA Kicks Off 2026 With Surge in January Diamond Sales

Alrosa reported a marked increase in diamond sales in January 2026, driven by renewed purchasing in key markets and recorded month-on-month improvements in both rough and polished sales volumes, industry reporting in mid-February noted. The jump at the start of the year was presented as an early signal of market strength after a period of uneven demand among manufacturers and retailers.

The company’s sales momentum sits alongside a production outlook for the year. TradingView carried a headline reporting that Alrosa’s CEO sees 2026 diamond production at 25-26 million carats. That production guidance and the January sales surge are complementary metrics: one gauges supply intent for the year, the other signals immediate buyer appetite in primary trading hubs.

Market structure and the sightholder network remain central to how that appetite translates into finished product. Farmonaut’s Table Notes project a slight increase in the number of Alrosa sightholders in 2026 and estimate that those sightholders will be sustaining roughly 25% of the global diamond market. Farmonaut also records that the average price per carat continues to rise, a pattern consistent with stronger demand for high-quality rough and more advanced sorting and cutting practices among sightholders.

Technology and sustainability are explicit drivers in Farmonaut’s assessment of 2026. The firm lists concrete tools in use or rolling out to mining businesses and sightholders: satellite imagery for crop loan and insurance verification, a large-scale management platform for land rehabilitation and re-plantation monitoring that pairs satellite data with AI-driven advisory, and fleet and machinery tracking systems to optimize logistics and improve compliance. Farmonaut further notes that sustainability initiative adoption rates are set for a steep climb, and that 2026 is seeing a remarkable surge in technological innovation among sightholders in sorting, cutting, and sustainability.

Broader industry currents frame the sales story. The Association of Intelligent Diamond International highlighted themes on its pages including Baselworld’s aims for a 2026 revival, the experience economy and hyper-personalization in retail, e-commerce dominance, the continuing ascendancy of the lab-grown diamond sector, platinum market pressures tied to automotive demand, and a push toward blockchain-driven traceability. Its coverage added that industry analysts are closely examining these January figures to assess implications for the remainder of the year.

Important caveats remain. Specific January sales values and carat volumes have not been fully disclosed, and Farmonaut flags persistent challenges for sightholders and miners - regulatory compliance, competitive pressures, and supply chain stability. The early-year surge and rising average price per carat set a bullish tone for 2026, but the market will require transparent sales figures and sustained sightholder performance to convert that January momentum into an enduring recovery.