The growth in revenues comes at a time when the company placed its Tirisano mine onto care and maintenance earlier in 2012, besides offloading its Klipdam mine during the quarter.
During the quarter, the company sold 3,257 carats at an average price of $2,018 per carat.
Rockwell Diamonds focused predominantly on Middle Orange River region that has resulted in 38% drop in total carats sold from its own operations.
Rockwell CEO and president James Campbell said that the sale of high quality diamonds validates the company’s strategy to concentrate on Middle Orange River project.
"We are pleased to produce a 31% increase in revenue from diamond sales from our own operations – before any beneficiation income. This performance is underpinned by a 109% increase in our average diamond values, more than making up for the 38% reduction in total carats sold," added Campbell.
"It included several high quality diamonds from our flagship Saxendrift operation and the newly commissioned Saxendrift Hill Complex mine."
With these results, Saxendrift mine secured a 48% year-on-year increase in average price per carat received, alongside 56% year-on-year increase during the three-month period. An average price per carat of $3,668 from the sale of 130 carats was obtained for the newly commissioned Saxendrift Hill Complex.
"As the operations at Saxendrift Hill Complex and Niewejaarskraal (currently in commissioning) are established and reach their nameplate capacity, we are positioned to make up the sales shortfall from Tirisano and Klipdam," noted Campbell.
