Increased political stability following Guinea's first democratic transfer of power in 2010 has increased international demand for the country's mineral resources, although diamond output was down significantly, Steelguru.com reports.

Guinea's Finance Ministry reported that production of bauxite – of which Guinea is the world's largest exporter – increased 15% to 12 million tons in the first nine months of 2010. Gold production reached 603,000 ounces – an increase of 67% - and production of alumina rose from 393,000 tons in the corresponding period of 2009 to 564,000 tons for the period reported.

All of which makes the country's 60% decline in diamond production (down to 200,000 carats of rough diamonds for the first nine months of 2010) more notable and hard to understand. The ministry did not provide any explanation for the decreased output of diamonds.

In December, Stellar Diamonds confirmed that the Droujba site in southeast Guinea had a kimberlite depth of 120 meters. By June 28, 2010, the company's Mandala and Bomboko diamond mines in Guinea had produced a combined 82,000 carats of diamonds.

According to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, in 2009 – a year in which the diamond industry was still suffering from the global financial crisis – Guinea exported 696,731 carats of diamonds with a total value of close to $29 million.