Year-on-year, the total value of traded rough diamonds on the Antwerp market rose to nearly US$5 billion, or just under 50 million carats of imported and exported rough diamonds. The 25% jump is impressive considering January and February 2020 - the last months before the global outbreak of the COVID crisis – were considered strong months as the industry was emerging from the 2019 dip. Rough imports were up 13% in value to 24 million carats, while exports rose 40% in value, to nearly 25 million carats compared to Q1 2020.  

As for polished, the increases are more modest, but significant to indicate market recovery in the industry’s main consumer markets. Compared to the same period in 2020, volumes of exported and imported polished combined are up to +2 million carats, equaling US$ 3.6 billion. Exports to China even increased 435% in volume and 461% in value and to the US rose 44% and 23% respectively. Comparing Q1 2021 with Q1 2020, exports of polished diamonds remained flat in terms of volume but were up 6.6% to US$1.8 billion, while imports were up 12.6% in volume to 1.2 million carats, at a value of US$1.8 billion.  

“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.” Karen Rentmeesters, Senior Manager PR&Communications AWDC commented.