Fashion
Diamond selling processes are outdated and hurting producers, trader says
By
Reuters
Published
September 18, 2025
The sale of diamonds through tenders and auctions is opaque and inefficient and should be revamped for producers to earn more and to survive the current price slump, a leading gem trader said on Thursday.
Oded Mansori, co-founder and managing partner of Belgian gem trader HB Antwerp, said the impact on producers could be reduced by doing away with inefficiencies in the industry.
The diamond market is currently going through a prolonged downturn with demand hurt by global economic uncertainty and the rising popularity of lab-grown stones.
Producer countries such as Botswana have been hard hit by lower revenues, while miners such Burgundy and Lesotho’s biggest diamond mine Letseng have had to lay off workers.
“For years, miners relied on tenders and auctions, systems that look efficient on paper but in practice resemble a casino,” Mansori said in a statement, as the industry battles a crisis considered to be its deepest in history.
“Rough stones are pushed into opaque markets where value is anyone’s guess. When global demand softens, as it has in cycles over the last decade, producers are left exposed. Workers pay the price, while shareholders watch assets decline,” he added.
Rough diamonds are typically sold through a competitive bidding system where buyers place confidential bids on individual stones or parcels.
Mansori, whose company operates a profit-sharing model with miner Lucara Diamond Corp, says producers’ revenues should be tied to the eventual polished value of its stones “rather than gambling on rough sales in opaque auctions”.
Under its partnership with Lucara, HB Antwerp buys stones of 10.8 carat quality and above from the Toronto-listed company’s Karowe Mine in central Botswana at prices based on the estimated polished value of each diamond.
HB Antwerp accounted for 72% of Lucara’s $74 million diamond revenue in the six months to June 30, up from 65% the year before.
The trader says producers can earn up to 40% more revenue if they sell through this model.
© Thomson Reuters 2025 All rights reserved.
Fashion
Dutch goods trade rises in H1 2025 despite weaker fuel exports: CBS
The total value of goods imported was 2 per cent higher than it was in the first half (H1) of 2024, CBS said in a press release.
In each month of Q1 2025, more goods were traded than in the same month of 2024. In April and May, trade was down from last year, but in June it was higher once again.
Dutch international trade in goods rose in the first half (H1) of 2025 compared with H1 2024, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
Exports increased 1.9 per cent and imports 2 per cent YoY.
While mineral fuel trade declined, exports of other goods were largely stable or higher.
Trade with Belgium, France, and the UK weakened, whereas exports to Germany and the US and imports from China grew.
Imports and exports of mineral fuel declined in H1 2025: the import value was 11 per cent lower, while the export value was 15 per cent lower. In other product categories, exports were higher than the previous year or were down by less than those of mineral fuels.
There has been geopolitical turbulence around the world in recent months, and trade with certain neighbouring countries seems to have suffered particularly in the first half of 2025. The value of imports from Belgium and the United Kingdom was down, for instance, as was the value of exports to Belgium and France, added the release.
Exports to the Netherlands’ key trading partner, Germany, saw an increase, while imports from China rose 5 per cent YoY in the first half (H1) of 2025. Exports to the United States climbed 11 per cent, with the most notable growth occurring in February, March, and April.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Fashion
Michael Kors parent Capri Holdings’ revenue exceeds estimates at $856 million in Q2 FY26
Published
November 4, 2025
Michael Kors parent Capri Holdings’ revenue exceeded estimates and totalled $856 million in the second quarter of the 2026 financial year. The business’ net loss rose to $34 million, compared to net income of $42 million a year prior.
“We are encouraged by our second quarter results,” said the company’s chairman and CEO John D Idol in a release posted on the business’ website on November 4. “Trends continued to improve sequentially, which resulted in revenue, gross margin, and operating income exceeding our expectations. This performance demonstrates the progress we are making as we execute against our strategic initiatives to energise our fashion luxury houses.”
The business’ revenue dropped by 4.2% year on year in constant currency terms (-2.5% on a reported basis) and its loss from operations totalled $12 million in the quarter ending September 27. Capri Holdings’ gross profit totalled $522 million in the second quarter of the 2026 financial year and the reported gross margin was 61%, compared to $547 million and 62.3% a year prior. Tariffs negatively impacted the gross margin rate by approximately 130 basis points, according to the business, and a higher than anticipated effective tax rate versus its original guidance negatively impacted adjusted net income by $24 million.
Capri Holdings’ brand Michael Kors’ revenue decreased by 1.8% on a reported basis and 3.3% on a constant currency basis in the second quarter of the 2026 financial year, totalling $725 million. The label’s gross profit was $430 million in the second quarter, compared to $451 million a year earlier.
The business’ label Jimmy Choo’s revenue totalled $131 million in the past quarter, representing a year on year drop of 6.4% on a reported basis and 9.3% on a constant currency basis. The luxury brand’s gross profit was $92 million in the second quarter this fiscal, compared to $96 million in the second quarter of the 2025 financial year.
“With the Versace sale expected to close in our fiscal third quarter, we are now fully focused on the growth of our two iconic brands Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo,” said Idol. “We plan to use the proceeds of the sale to repay the majority of our debt, substantially strengthening our balance sheet and providing greater financial flexibility to both invest in our growth as well as return capital to shareholders in the future. Given the encouraging signs of stabilisation across our business and our planned reduction in debt levels, our Board of Directors has authorised a new $1 billion share repurchase program which the Company expects to begin implementing in fiscal 2027.”
In its outlook for the full 2026 financial year, Capri Holdings expects to see its total revenue sit in the range of $3.375 billion and $3.45 billion with an operating income of around $100 million. The business forecasts total revenue of $2.8 billion to $2.875 billion for the Michael Kors brand and $565 million to $575 million for Jimmy Choo for the full financial year.
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Fashion
India restores import duty exemptions for leather export inputs
The exemptions had been discontinued on March ** this year as the government did not issue a fresh notification before the expiry of the previous one. As a result, duty exemptions were unavailable to Indian exporters from April until the new notification was issued on October **.
Under the latest notification, imports of materials including wet blue, crust, and finished leather; buckles, zips, soles, linings, and fittings will continue to enjoy Nil customs duty when used in the manufacture of leather garments, footwear, and accessories meant for export.
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