De Beers lifted diamond prices at its third consecutive sale as an industrywide recovery from the coronavirus pandemic gathers pace.

The world’s biggest diamond producer raised prices by about 4% at its second sale of the year, according to people familiar with the situation who asked not to be identified because the information is private.

A spokesman for De Beers declined to comment.

Diamond prices are rebounding after the pandemic brought the industry to an almost complete standstill in the first half of last year. Strong holiday sales in the US and positive signs from the Chinese New Year have seen buyers rush to replenish their stocks of rough stones.