Observer Money

De Beers has released its sales schedule for the coming year, with plans to hold the usual 10 sales across the 12-month period. The miner sells around 90% of its rough diamonds to sightholders that agree to buy a set volume of rough in return for consistent supply. Amid ongoing uncertainty in the diamond industry, De Beers will extend its current sightholder agreement through June 30, 2026. The contract regulates the company’s rough-diamond sales to customers via its sight system. The rough diamonds originate from the company’s owned and joint-venture operations. The sales will take place in Botswana, Namibia and…

Staff Writer BHP Group Limited has lifted its copper production guidance for the 2026 financial year after strong operational performance and firm commodity prices during the half year ended 31 December 2025. In its operational review, the mining group said copper prices rose 32% year-on-year, supported by solid global demand and supply disruptions at rival producers.  Iron ore prices were also higher, rising 4% over the same period. Against this backdrop, BHP recorded operational records across its copper and iron ore businesses. The company said it increased its copper production guidance for the 2026 financial year after stronger-than-expected performance across…

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s construction sector remains on a cautious but uneven path, shaped by improving financial conditions and ongoing structural constraints, according to Simonis Storm’s Namibia Building Statistics for December. Lower inflation and a gradually easing interest-rate environment are providing some relief.  However, weak investment pipelines, policy uncertainty and capacity constraints continue to limit a broad-based recovery. Municipal building plan data shows a mixed regional picture. In Windhoek, approved building plans rose by 13% year-on-year in December 2025 to 169 approvals.  Month-on-month approvals fell by 4%. On a quarterly basis, Windhoek recorded 543 approved plans in the fourth quarter of…

Chamwe Kaira  KAL Group, the holding company of Agrimark, has reported strong growth for the 2025 financial year, driven by expansion initiatives and improved operating efficiencies across its businesses. The KAL Group operates 89 stores across South Africa and Namibia, including 25 Agrimark outlets in Namibia.  Since 2011, the group has delivered a compound annual growth rate of 12.7% in recurring headline earnings per share. For the year under review, the group generated N$20.3 billion in revenue.  This was achieved despite an 11% decline in fuel prices, which make up 53% of total sales. Agri-inputs grew by 8.2%, while fuel…

Hellmut von Ludwiger  Not long ago, I found myself in a boardroom conversation that had nothing to do with numbers, forecasts, or compliance checklists. Instead, the question on the table was a simple one: are we making decisions today that we would still be proud of tomorrow?  It was a reminder that, at its heart, governance is not just about rules but about judgement, accountability, and the responsibility we carry toward those who place their trust in us. It is against this backdrop that the launch of the King V Code marks an important milestone in the evolution of corporate…

Petra Diamonds has recovered a blue diamond weighing 41.82 carats from its Cullinan mine in South Africa. The stone, a type IIb of “exceptional quality”, is the first of its colour and magnitude the deposit has yielded in the past five years, Petra said Tuesday. The previous one was a 39.34-carat diamond it found at the site in April 2021. The company sold that gem for US$40.2 million. The miner is in the process of analysing the stone and deciding the best method of sale. The Cullinan mine is known for the recovery of rare, high-value blue diamonds. The stone…

Chamwe Kaira The Agricultural Employers’ Association (AEA) has expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Labour’s stance on in-kind fringe benefits for farm workers, which must be provided in addition to the new National Minimum Wage (NMW).  The association says it will continue discussions with the ministry and has called for proper consultation to avoid further job losses. From this month, the minimum cash wage for farm workers has increased from N$10 to N$14 per hour. However, existing in-kind benefits remain compulsory.  These include housing with water and sanitation, as well as one of three food or land options.  The options…

Chamwe Kaira The Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) closed the week ending 16 January 2026 on a mixed note, with the Local Index edging slightly lower while overall market activity remained steady. The NSX Local Index closed at 808.31 points on Friday, down slightly from 808.64 points at the end of the previous week. The index moved within a narrow range throughout the week, reflecting limited price movement in locally listed shares. The NSX Overall Index ended Friday at 2,174.39 points, down from 2,184.55 points a week earlier, following softer performances in some dual-listed stocks. Trading activity increased during the week.…

Staff Writer Standard Bank Namibia has introduced a new pricing structure aimed at making banking more affordable and accessible, effective 1 January 2026. Under the new model, customers can make point-of-sale (POS) purchases for free and receive three free ATM withdrawals per month.  The bank said the changes are intended to lower banking costs and encourage secure, card-based transactions. Nolan Angermund, Personal and Private Banking Product Head at Standard Bank Namibia, said the initiative forms part of the bank’s wider effort to simplify banking and promote financial inclusion. “Free swipes and free withdrawals are just the start of our commitment…