Antwerp’s Q1 rough diamond exports rose 40% in value to $2.58 billion and grew 14% in volume to 25.8 million carats, according to the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). Rough imports were up 13% in value to $2.39 billion, and increased 3% in volume to 24.1 million carats. The Q1 figures further confirm the industry’s recovery, set in motion in Q4 2020, AWDC noted.
Comparing Q1 2021 with Q1 2020, exports of polished diamonds remained flat in terms of volume (855,564 carats) but were up 7% to $1.78 billion, while imports were up 13% in volume to 1.24 million carats, at a value of $1.8 billion.
The polished increases were modest but significant, indicating market recovery in the industry’s main consumer markets, it added. Polished exports to China increased 435% in volume (34,754 carats) and 461% in value ($43,319) and to the US rose 44% (106,936 carats) and 23% ($555.4 million) respectively.
Polished imports from India, Antwerp’s top source, increased 32% in value ($462 million) and 39% in volume (636,595 carats). Karen Rentmeesters, Senior Manager PR & Communications, AWDC, commented, “Continuing on the trend of the final months of 2020, the first quarter of 2021 demonstrates Antwerp’s resilience and its agility to remain fully operational while the world continues to battle the pandemic. The trade in rough diamonds, the lifeblood of the entire industry, is driving further recovery with optimal market conditions and prices in Antwerp, demonstrated by the more than 30 tenders that were held alongside contract and specials sales in the diamond capital in the past three months.”