Over the past year, Antwerp has clearly identified its leading position in the global diamond trade and continues to be the main partner of gemstone dealers around the world, according to a press release distributed by the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC). Despite the growing competition from other diamond trading centers, Antwerp's diamond trade has grown this year. In total, for the twelve months this figure was 227.2 million carats of diamonds and diamonds, and the total cost of stones reached $ 58.8 billion, compared with $ 56.5 billion in 2012.
Both imports and exports of diamonds have increased significantly compared to 2013. It exported 114.5 million carats of rough diamonds, its value reached $ 15.7 billion, the quantitative growth was 7.5%, and the growth in value reached 7%.
As for the import of diamonds, the picture is even more revealing. Imports of similar products in quantitative terms increased by 10% compared to the indicator of 2013, and the increase in the cost of stones reached 13%. At least 99.9 million carats of diamonds were imported to Antwerp in 2014, their value was $ 14.9 billion.
On the contrary, the indicators of diamond trade were under increased pressure from external and internal factors. On average, in quantitative terms, polished exports fell by 5%. At the same time, the cost of exported processed stones increased by 4%, which allows us to talk about the sale of more expensive diamonds in 2014. The volume of polished exports amounted to 6.4 million carats, and their value - $ 14.4 billion.
Hong Kong remains in the first place in the export of diamonds from Antwerp, followed by the UAE, the third is the United States. The main partners for the import of processed stones are India, Hong Kong and the UAE.
Despite high trading performance in 2014, it was difficult for traders engaged in the global diamond and diamond industry.
The decision to close the Antwerp Diamond Bank (Antwerp Diamond Bank) and the continuing uncertainty in the sector, due to a lack of liquidity and declining access to credit and other financial services for the industry, have placed a heavy burden on the entire diamond industry.
In addition, traders in major diamond trading centers face a decline in business profitability. This is mainly due to the increase in prices for rough diamonds, caused both by the natural deficit of diamonds, and by the solid positions of the main diamond mining companies, while the prices for diamonds do not show similar growth. The profitability in the industry fell by an average of 2-3%.
However, Antwerp looks to the future with confidence. The world's largest diamond market in the US will grow by 2-3% in the next decade; at the same time, according to experts, the Chinese market will double. By 2024, the number of middle class in India will triple, which will also lead to an increase in the diamond industry in the future.