Australia’s diamond production totaled 1.667 million carats in the March ending quarter, falling 35% year over year. The decline is primarily blamed on heavy rain in Western Australia, which effected production at Rio Tinto’s Argyle diamond mine and Gem Diamonds’ Ellendale diamond mine.



Diamonds were not the only declining commodity, according to data released Wednesday by ABARE. Around 70% of commodities recorded decreases in the quarter.



Diamond exports worth US$99.6 million fell 26% compared to exports in the March 2010 quarter and 14% as compared to the December ending quarter.

The volume of diamond exports, 2.5 million carats, declined 35% year over year and 7% from the preceding quarter.



Imports of 66,000 carats of gem quality diamonds were equal in value to exports during the quarter, $99.6 million, a 17% decline from a year ago.



According to ABARE’s Australian Mineral Statistics, diamond exploration expenditure amounted to $642,000 in the period.