BHP Billiton's diamond production was down 10% in the quarter ending September 30, 2010, the company reports.

The company's 80% share of the Ekati diamond mine in Canada represented a total of 703,000 carats of rough diamonds recovered, 10% fewer than the 780,000 carats recovered in the corresponding quarter in 2009 and 5% fewer than in the quarter that ended on June 30, 2010, which saw a total of 740,000 carats recovered.

Ekati processed a total of 1,196,000 tons of ore in the quarter ending September 30, 2010, less than in the previous quarter and the corresponding quarter of 2009, both of which saw over 1,220,000 tons of ore processed.