Trade of rough diamonds in Antwerp reached nearly US$5 billion in the first quarter of 2021, up 25 per cent from year-ago figures, indicating steady recovery in the market. 

Data from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) showed that rough imports were up 13 per cent in value to 24 million carats while exports rose 40 per cent in value to around 25 million carats compared to Q1 2020.  

“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,” Karen Rentmeesters, senior manager for PR & Communications at AWDC, commented. 

The AWDC official attributed the strong rebound in rough diamond trade to optimal market conditions and prices in Antwerp. More than 30 tenders were held alongside contract and specials sales in Antwerp over the past three months, she added.

Movement was more modest in the polished diamond sector but business is picking up in main consumer markets. Compared to the same period in 2020, polished exports and imports hit US$3.6 billion. Exports to China skyrocketed by 435 per cent in volume and 461 per cent in value while those to the US rose 44 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively.