Diamond production increased by 2 percent to 25.3 million carats from 24.7 million carats in first half of 2006. The 5.2 percent increase in its underlying earnings from $308 million in 2006 to $324 million in this year is attributed to the reduction in net finance charges. Cash available from operating activities rose by 48 percent to $522 million, mainly due to favorable movements of working capital.

The company stated that during the first half of 2007, it paid attention to “refocusing exploration activities, a strategic review of existing mining assets, continued investment in a $2 billion new mine building programme, and establishing new sales and marketing operations in southern Africa.”

De Beers didn’t receive good results with its net earnings as they dropped by one-third drop in the first six months of 2007, valuing at $350 million compared to $520 million in the first half of 2006. Sales reduced by 7 percent to value at $3.402 billion, compared to $3.66 billion last year.

Diamond Trading Company’s diamond sales decreased by 8.1 percent; from $3.252 billion last year to $2.987 billion in 2007. Non-DTC diamond sales of $224 million were up by 19.1 percent from $188 million.