Russia claimed the largest share of the production increase—3 million carats. Production rose because ALROSA’s
Aikhal underground mine reached its target capacity, ore grade at the Jubilee pipe improved, and ALROSA
acquired the Nizhne-Lenskoye diamond-mining company. Australia’s production increased 2.5 million carats
as a result of Rio Tinto’s commissioning of an underground mine at Argyle. Botswana’s output grew by 2.5 million
carats because of increased production by Debswana.