DE BEERS has forecast diamond production for 2013 to be 27.9 million carats which would match output in 2012, said BDLive citing De Beers CEO, Philippe Mellier.

Speaking at the presentation of the diamond group's interim results last week, Mellier said production for the first half of 2013 was 14.3-million carats. This was nearly 1-million carats up on the 13.4-million carats produced in the interim period in 2012.

"With full recovery from the Jwaneng slope failure and Venetia mine flooding expected during the second half, De Beers continues to anticipate full-year production will recover to be broadly in line with 2012, subject to market conditions," said Mellier.

"De Beers expects moderate growth in diamond jewellery demand in the remaining six months of 2013, supported by improving sentiment in the US market and continued growth in China, albeit at a lower rate," he said