Key points
- Diamond Fields sold 1,958.19 carats through Diamond Tenders Belgium in Antwerp at an average of $258.36 (U.S.) per carat, a 21-per-cent increase over last year’s $213 (U.S.) per carat.
- Total carats recovered in March were 2,763.28, the company’s best month since May 2007 and third best since January 2007.
- Ship availability for the MV DF Discoverer exceeded 80 per cent during March, an all-time high.
- Total Q1 2008 carats recovered reached 5,882.74 from 15,626 gem-quality stones averaging 0.38 carat per stone.
Diamond Fields International Ltd. achieved record prices on its most recent diamond sales conducted through Diamond Tenders, Belgium, Diamond Field’s partially owned diamond marketing company in Antwerp, Belgium. The company sold 1,958.19 carats at an average price of $258.36 (U.S.) per carat, a 21-per-cent increase over last year’s average sale price of $213 (U.S.) per carat. Total carats recovered for the month of March were 2,763.28, the company’s best month since May, 2007, and the third best month since January, 2007. Ship availability to mine, meaning the amount of time the MV DF Discoverer was actually mining, exceeded 80 per cent during March — an all-time high. Total carats recovered to the end of the first-quarter 2008 totalled 5,882.74 on 15,626 gem quality stones, with an average weight of 0.38 carat per stone. Commenting on the results, Wayne Malouf, Diamond Field’s chief executive officer, said: “Obviously management is very pleased with the improved production figures. They are directly attributable to an overhaul of the marine operation in February conducted by Joe Martin, Peter Schroeder and their marine team. Most important is the significant improvement in ship availability, a prerequisite in our program to make the marine operation more efficient.”
