De Beers diamond production during the first quarter of 2010 topped 7 million carats, marking a 548% increase from the first quarter of 2009, when the diamond giant produced slightly over 1 million carats, according to Anglo American’s production report for the quarter. Production had been scaled back during the first quarter of 2009 in response to weak market sentiment.

Diamond sales in the first quarter of this year were nearly three times higher than the same period of 2009. This followed re-stocking in the pipeline in the first quarter, improving US consumer confidence and strong growth continuing in China and India.

In the final quarter of 2009, diamond production was 10,124,000 carats, and Anglo American notes that the ‘heavy seasonal rainfall in Southern Africa imposed operational challenges, whilst production at De Beers’ Canadian operations was favorable’.