Alrosa "Considering $50m Polishing Plant in India"

(IDEX Online) - Alrosa is reportedly considering a move to establish its own diamond polishing facility in India.

The plant would be located in Surat or Jaipur, at an estimated cost of $50m, and it would represent Alrosa's first overseas expansion, according to the Economic Times (ET) in a report headlined "Russia's diamond miner Alrosa eyes India foray with a polishing facility".

If the facility goes ahead, it would mark a structural shift for Russia's state-controlled company - moving from its position as a miner primarily selling rough diamonds, to a miner participating directly in large-scale downstream manufacturing.

Alrosa already operates polishing and cutting units in Yakutia (Siberia) and the Moscow area, but these facilities focus on small- to medium-sized stones intended mostly for domestic markets.

Establishing a plant in India, the global hub for diamond cutting and polishing, would give Alrosa direct access to the world's largest polishing ecosystem, enable greater scale and efficiency, and strengthen ties with international buyers.

Polishing diamonds outside Russia would also help the company reduce friction linked to "Russian origin" scrutiny, improve access to key consumer markets — particularly the US — and mitigate challenges posed by tariffs, sanctions, and market fragmentation.

Strategically, the move would reflect Alrosa's attempt to capture more value along the diamond pipeline while securing its global market position.

We have approached Alrosa for comment.

Pic courtesy Alrosa, shows diamond cutters at one of its facilities.