Diamond production has increased by 53 percent for BHP Billiton, during the three months ending March 31, 2009. The production for the said quarter increased to 951,000 carats, while in the same period last year it amounted to 620,000 carats. The amount of ore processed at the mine increased 29 percent to 1.25 million tonnes. %% The increase is being attributed to an increase in ore processed and higher grades acquired at the Ekati mine in Canada, in which BHP holds 80 percent share.