Canada-focused miner Dominion Diamond (TSE:DDC, NYSE:DDC) reported lower diamond sales in its latest quarter.
The firm's assets are the Ekati Diamond Mine and Diavik mine in the Northwest Territories
Total second quarter rough diamond sales for the three months to July 31 were US$209.7 million compared to US$277.3 million in the same period of last year.
The company described sales as robust "despite a cautious market and a time of seasonal weakness in demand".
Last month, the firm made changes to the liberation process at the Ekati mine with promising test results. During the quarter, this mine recovered 0.9 million carats from 1.0 million tonnes of ore processed, compared to 0.8 million carats from 1.1 million tonnes in the comparable period.
The operational challenges experienced at the Ekati process plant in the first quarter have been resolved, the company said.
In terms of development, the Misery Main pipe is still on track for first production in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, while the first production from the Pigeon pipe is now expected in November 2016.
Shares are down 0.93% at US$12.85 each.