Namibia diamond output jumps as demand recovers

Production between January and May 2010 reached 580, 000 ct, compared to 929, 006 ct for the whole of 2009, figures released by the Ministry of Mines and Energy showed, a 102 percent jump from the same period last year.

Diamond mining came to a virtual standstill in early 2009 as the industry announced a "production holiday" reeling under the impact of the global recession. Production in the first quarter of 2010 was 298, 000 ct, a 2,9 percent increase compared to the last quarter of 2009 and a 138,1 percent  rise compared to the same period last year.