Rough diamond trade in Antwerp during the first half of the year outperformed 2019 levels, registering double-digit growth and demonstrating strong recovery in the city’s diamond sector.

Polished trade, still suffering from the absence of physical trade shows and Covid-related challenges in India, showed encouraging signs of rebound, according to Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC).

Compared with the same period in 2019, Antwerp’s rough diamond trade saw an 11 per cent increase to US$10.4 billion and a 7 per cent jump to 99 million carats. On top of the regular influx of rough diamonds via contract sales from miners, Antwerp also hosted more than 75 diamond tenders in the first six months of the year, supported by strong rough prices.

Karen Rentmeesters, senior manager for Industry Relations at AWDC, remarked, “Despite the lingering constraints of the pandemic, with second and third waves in many places around the world, Antwerp has proven to be a safe haven for producers to sell their rough, where they can achieve consistent, high value for their goods. It is no surprise that, while competing hubs were forced to cancel tenders, new supply of rough found its way to Antwerp, and continues to be sold here, demonstrated by very strong rough import figures and a busy market.”

Antwerp imported US$5 billion worth of rough diamonds in the first half of the year, up from US$2.7 billion during the same period in 2020 and US$4.3 billion in 2019.