Management of ALROSA Company and De Beers Corporation consider possibility of concluding a new trade 5-year agreement. It was announced by ALROSA representative, who commented on the Supervisory Committee closed on May 11 in Moscow. During two days delegations headed by ALROSA's President Vyacheslav Shtyrov and De Beers' Executive Director Gary Ralfe discussed the principles of agreement on diamond sale after 2001. Current agreement expires on December 31, 2001. The representative said that "parties agreed on collaboration between two biggest world diamond producers otherwise the diamond market will collapse. Details are not announced as work meetings in Moscow and in London are to follow in order to work out a new agreement.

In 2000 diamond turnover of De Beers Corporation amounted $5.67 bn, ALROSA produced diamonds worth $1.63 bn.