Diamond data

The eighth annual global diamond report from Bain & Company and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre finds that the diamond industry – just like the luxury market – remains resilient against global socio-economic turmoil. Following a period of volatility, Bain writes, the global diamond industry regains its luster with 2 percent growth in 2017.

After a very difficult 2015, the Antwerp diamond industry recorded a 5% increase in trade in 2016. This past year, a total of 48 billion USD worth of diamonds were imported to and exported from Antwerp. The rough diamond market in particular is clearly making a strong recovery. This is positive sign, given that the rough diamond trade is the foundation and heart of the diamond trade. The proactive efforts of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) to bring more rough diamonds onto the Antwerp market is clearly bearing fruit. 

According to Bain & Company’s sixth annual report on the global diamond jewelry market, Millennials could give a further boost to industry sales, if the industry finds a way to reach them effectively.

The global diamond industry performed moderately well in 2015, led by diamond jewelry retail sales, which grew 3 percent at constant exchange rates. However, currency depreciation last year, as well as slower demand in China, contributed to a decline in global revenue of about 2 percent in U.S. dollar terms. Similarly, in the midstream, U.S. dollar revenues dipped by 2 percent and rough diamond sales fell nearly a quarter (24 percent). That decline was the result of reduced purchasing volumes in the cutting and polishing sector and the release of about $5 billion of their inventories into the downstream markets. These are the findings in the sixth annual report on the global diamond jewelry market, prepared by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and Bain & Company. 

From January to June, 111.1 million carats of rough and polished diamonds were traded on the Antwerp diamond market, as compared to 102.8 million carats in the first half of 2015. The trade figures for polished diamonds remained stable but were lower than last year. The rough trade increased as compared to 2015. During the first six months this year, a total of 6.2 million carats of polished diamonds, valued at more than 13 billion dollars, were traded in Antwerp. The rough trade from January to June was good more 104.9 million carats worth 13.2 billion dollars.

The Antwerp rough diamond trade is gradually recovering after a downturn in 2015. According to the April trade figures published by Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the rough trade surged 32% in value and 39% in volume compared to April 2015. The polished diamond trade faced more headwinds, declining slightly as compared to April last year. Additionally, we note that the United States imported and exported fewer yet more valuable diamonds, while the United Arab Emirates displayed the opposite trend.

2015 was a difficult year for the global diamond trade. Poor economic conditions caused diamond demand to slow worldwide. Antwerp, the largest diamond trade hub in the world, did not escape the downturn unscathed. The February trade figures, however, show the first signs of recovery. The diamond trade has taken an upturn.

The diamond trade around the world is under duress. Antwerp, the most important international trade center, did not escape the year unscathed, but was the best performer. This past year, 48.3 billion USD worth of diamonds were imported to and exported from Antwerp. 

The figures from the first half of 2015 show that the Antwerp diamond industry traded fewer rough diamonds from January through June in comparison to last year. The trade figures for polished diamonds paint a more positive picture.

According to the first quarter figures from the Antwerp diamond industry, it appears that fewer rough diamonds were traded this year in comparison with the first quarter of 2014. The trade figures for polished diamonds paint a more positive picture.

Antwerp, 12 November, 2014 - The Antwerp diamond sector’s trade figures in October decreased slightly compared to the same month last year. Figures show that slightly fewer polished diamonds were traded, but the value of diamonds traded was higher compared to the value of polished diamonds traded in October last year. Rough diamond trade figures also show a decline compared to October 2013, but the first ten months of the year as a whole do show an increase.