De Beers' first quarter diamond production up 3% on year to 6.4 million carats

De Beers' rough diamond output in the first quarter edged up 3 percent on the year-earlier period to 6.4 million carats, reported mining giant Anglo American, which owns 85 percent of the diamond firm.

The rise mostly reflects improved grades, offset by lower production as a result of planned plant maintenance at Orapa in Botswana, the firm said in a statement.

However, production dropped 21 percent compared to the previous quarter due to disruption at the Venetia mine in South Africa as a result of flooding of the pit following heavy rainfall in the area.

That was partly offset by the processing of ore stockpiles, with the shortfall expected to be recovered in the second half of 2013.

Meanwhile, the Jwaneng mine in Botswana is continuing to recover from the impact of a slope failure in June 2012 when a worker was killed and heavy rainfall at the end of last year.