Petra Diamonds Ltd released its performance report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, suggesting an 88% increase in gross revenue.

The diamond company attributed the figures – $177.7 million compared to $94.4 million in 2009 – to the ongoing recovery in prices for rough diamonds; an upswing in Group production; and sales of "notable specials."

According to Petra's website, notable special diamonds included:

White Cullinan Heritage diamond (507 carats): $35.3 million

White Cullinan Diamonds (168 carats): $6.3 million

White Cullinan Diamonds (64 carats): $3.7 million

White Cullinan Diamond (104 carats): $2 million

Two 30+ carat white diamonds from the Koffiefontein mine for over $1 million each.

The company report also noted that blue diamonds from the Cullinan mine were still commanding a very high per-carat price. One 6.7 carat blue diamond sold for $510,000 and a 2.8 carat blue diamond fetched $250,000.

Petra Diamond Ltd. sold a gross amount of 1,125,098 carats in 2010 – an 11% increase over 2009's 1,011,707 carats-and increased its gross production from just under 1,100,000 carats in 2009 to 1,164,856 (+6%).

Johan Dippenaar, Chief Executive Officer of Petra Diamonds noted that the company's higher revenue reflected both its increased production and a recovery in rough diamond prices.

Dippenaar added that Petra was now "fully financed to ensure the capital roll-out which will deliver further growth."

Petra's mine revenue jumped to $163.3 million (+136%), due in a large part to the company's consolidating its holdings in the Cullinan mine.

Turning to statistics for the Cullinan mine, Petra's report noted a 4% increase in gross carats produced; a 148% spike in revenue; a 16% growth in the number of carats sold; and a 114% increase in the average per-carat price.

The Koffiefontein mine saw a 16% increase in gross carats produced; a 25% revenue jump; and added 60% in the average price per carat. Carats sold registered a decline of 22%.

The Williamson mine in Tanzania saw improvement across the board: gross carats of diamonds produced were up 20%; revenue rose 53%; carats of diamonds sold added 22%; and the average per-carat price rose by 25%.