While Russia's Alrosa diamond miner is expected to keep its place as the world's foremost diamond producer for 2010, De Beers could regain the #1 spot in 2011, according to diamond industry analysts quoted in Reuters Africa.

According to the report, Alrosa's projected 2011 diamond production output stands is some 34.44 million carats, approximately 2% higher than the 33.76 million carats it is expected to produce by the end of this year.

De Beers estimates that it will produce 31 million carats of rough diamonds by the end of 2010, compared to 24.6 million carats in 2009 – a much sharper year-on-year increase than Alrosa's. Moreover, according to analysts from RBC Capital Markets, De Beers may produce as much as 40 million carats in 2011.