(IDEX Online News) – De Beers Group has announced that its second quarter diamond production decreased by 19 percent to 6.4 million carats in response to prevailing trading conditions.

In Africa, Botswana’s production decreased 12 percent to 5.2 million carats, due to a reduction of production at Orapa and the placing of the Damtshaa Mine on care and maintenance from January 1. South African production decreased 26 percent to 821,000 carats, due mainly to the completion of the Kimberley Mines sale to Ekapa Minerals. In Namibia, production decreased by 31 percent to 296,000 carats due to extended in-port maintenance of the Mafuta vessel and lower grades at Namdeb’s Land operations.

In Canada, production decreased 71 percent to 147,000 carats due to the placement of Snap Lake on care and maintenance in December.

There were three Sights in the second quarter, with a total of 9.6 million carats sold compared to 4.9 million carats from two Sights over the same period in the prior year. Consolidated sales volumes for the first half of 2016 were 17.2 million carats compared to 13.3 million carats in the first half of 2015 (from five Sights in each case).

In the first half of 2016, the average realized price of De Beers rough was $177 per carat, a 14-percent decrease compared to the first half of 2015.