19 Mar 2010 18:34

Russian diamond output falls 11.7% in 2 mths, gold

MOSCOW. March 19 (Interfax) - Russian diamond mine output fell 11.7% year-on-year in January-February, the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) said, without giving any figures.

February output fell 6% year-on-year and was 1.5% down from January 2010.

Rosstat said gold mine production fell 19% year-on-year in the two months and 16.6% in February, but it rose 18% in February compared with January 2010.

Russia mined 5.767 tonnes of gold in January, the Gold producers' Union has said. Overall gold production, including secondary and byproduct gold, was 6.692 tonnes in January.