BHP Billiton’s revenue from diamond operations drop 44%

At the close of six months ending December 31, 2012, BHP Billiton noted a 44 percent drop in its revenue from its diamond operations, which valued $199 million. Underlying earnings ‎before interest and tax dropped to a deficit of $37 million (the same stood in profit worth $120 million in the corresponding six months last year).

Diamond production decreased 35 ‎percent to 608,000 carats. The company owns 80 percent stake in the Ekati diamond mine, which it has agreed to sell to Harry Winston Diamond Corporation. Net operating assets of the diamond division valued t $487 million (the same was $815 million in the corresponding six months of last year). The group revenue decreased 14 percent to $32.2 billion.