Anglo American produces 12pc more iron ore Refined platinum production totalled 623,000 ounces, down 3pc on the same quarter last year. That dip was partly caused by the delayed restart of the converter plant, with the backlog in stocks to be processed by the end of the third quarter. Anglo's metallurgical coal operation, meanwhile, produced a record quarter thanks to improvements at its open cut operations including Peace River Coal, which the group has elected not to sell. Production of the steelmaking coal rose 23pc in the second quarter, year on year, to 4.8m tonnes. Thermal coal, meanwhile, saw production increases both in Colombia and South Africa. De Beers, the world's largest diamond producer by value, said earnings halved in the first six months of the year amid tough trading conditions, compared with a bumper start to last year, with the remainder of 2012 set to remain challenging. De Beers, which vies with Russia's Alrosa for the title of the world's largest diamond producer, said profit before finance charges and taxation for the first half totalled $502m, from $1.02bn reaped the first six months of 2011. Total sales dipped to $3.3bn from $3.9bn in the first half a year ago, while diamond production dipped to 13.4m carats as the producer continued to focus on repairs and maintenance, while it awaits improved demand from key clients, known as sightholders. De Beers expects trading conditions in the mid-stream to remain challenging during the second half of 2012," the company said in a statement. De Beers will continue to produce in line with sightholder demand and invest in stimulating and capturing consumer demand growth. Anglo American, which owns a 45pc stake in De Beers, agreed in November last year to take majority control of the miner by buying out the Oppenheimer family stake.