Diamond giant De Beers posted an interim performance report for the first half of 2010, noting increasing production, prices and sales amid continued marker recovery.

According to a posting on the diamond miner's website, its EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $762 million has more than doubled compared to the corresponding period in 2009, due to a stabilisation of, and improvement in, trading conditions in H1 2010.

Sales of rough diamonds by the DTC, the marketing arm of De Beers, came to $2.6 billion – an 84% increase compared to H1-2009. The spike was attributed to increased demand from retail markets, particularly India and China, as well as restocking by the trade.

Carats recovered during the first six months of 2010 amounted to 15.4 million, said the diamond company, more than double the amount recovered in H1-2009.

Detailing production and operating costs, De Beers said it came to $699 million, compared to $479 million in H1-2009, as a result of increased production across the Group. However, the focus remains on cash management and continuing the efficiency improvements achieved in 2009.

Following its successful $1 billion recapitalisation by shareholders, the Group successfully concluded a complex refinancing of all of its international and DBCM’s South African debt. All debt facilities across the world were extended to August 2013.