Overall, the value of diamonds bought by all importing countries dropped by an average -14% since 2017 when diamond purchases totaled $128.8 billion.
Year over year, the dollar sum paid for imported diamonds accelerated by 46.9% from $75.4 billion spent during 2020.
Collectively, the top 5 buyers of imported diamonds are India, United States of America, Hong Kong, Belgium, and the United Arab Emirates. Added together, that cohort of major diamond imports purchased three-quarters (75.3%) of internationally sold diamonds in 2021.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries spent the most on imported diamonds during 2021 with purchases surging to $70.2 billion or 63.4% of the global total. In second place were North American importers at 18.7 while another 15.3% of worldwide diamond imports went to European countries.
Smaller percentages went to Africa (2%), Oceania (0.5%) led by Australia, and Latin America (0.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 7102 for non-mounted and unset diamonds.
Diamond Imports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of diamonds during 2021.
- India: US$26.3 billion (23.7% of total imported diamonds)
- United States: $20.2 billion (18.3%)
- Hong Kong: $15.4 billion (13.9%)
- Belgium: $11.5 billion (10.3%)
- United Arab Emirates: $10.1 billion (9.1%)
- China: $9.2 billion (8.3%)
- Israel: $4.5 billion (4%)
- Switzerland: $1.8 billion (1.6%)
- Thailand: $1.7 billion (1.6%)
- United Kingdom: $1.6 billion (1.4%)
- Botswana: $1.5 billion (1.3%)
- Singapore: $1.1 billion (1%)
- Italy: $784.9 million (0.7%)
- South Africa: $669.7 million (0.6%)
- France: $662.1 million (0.6%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for diamonds since 2020 were: United Kingdom (up 154.8%), Italy (up 79.9%), South Africa (up 72.9%) and India (up 65.3%).
Botswana was the lone top buyer to post a decline in its purchases of imported diamonds thanks to a -25.3% drop.
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 96.5% of all diamonds imported in 2021.
Diamond Imports into India
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which India imported the highest dollar value worth of diamonds during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- United Arab Emirates: US$8.8 billion (up 111.5% from 2020)
- United States of America: $5.4 billion (up 58.7%)
- Belgium: $5.4 billion (up 61.5%)
- Hong Kong: $2.2 billion (down -5.3%)
- Israel: $1.2 billion (up 120.8%)
- South Africa: $916.1 million (up 83.1%)
- Russia: $854.4 million (up 50.6%)
- Botswana: $583.2 million (up 26.9%)
- Thailand: $424.5 million (up 119.2%)
- Japan: $141.9 million (up 16.5%)
- Singapore: $123.5 million (up 54.9%)
- United Kingdom: $106.7 million (up 135.6%)
- Angola: $83 million (up 799.2%)
- Canada: $79.8 million (down -32.7%)
- Switzerland: $13.9 million (down -61.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.8% of diamonds imported by India in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of diamonds to India since 2020 were: Angola (up 799.2%), United Kingdom (up 135.6%), Israel (up 120.8%) and Thailand (up 119.2%).
Three top providers experienced declines in the value of their diamonds supplied to Indian importers namely Switzerland (down -61.2%), Canada (down -32.7%) and Hong Kong (down -5.3%).
Overall, the value of India’s imported diamonds rose by an average 65.3% from all supplying countries since 2020 when diamonds purchased cost $15.9 billion.
Diamond Imports into the United States
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the United States imported the highest dollar value worth of diamonds during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- India: US$11 billion (up 73% from 2020)
- Israel: $5.1 billion (up 49.7%)
- Belgium: $1.3 billion (up 31.7%)
- South Africa: $1 billion (up 114.4%)
- Russia: $280 million (up 31.8%)
- Botswana: $257.1 million (up 45%)
- Switzerland: $231.2 million (down -24.2%)
- United Arab Emirates: $193.7 million (up 381.4%)
- Namibia: $120 million (up 77.1%)
- Canada: $78.3 million (up 77.8%)
- Australia: $76.5 million (up 28.7%)
- Mauritius: $75.8 million (up 38.7%)
- United Kingdom: $72.3 million (up 100.1%)
- Hong Kong: $69.8 million (up 57.3%)
- France: $62.9 million (up 417.4%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 98.5% of diamonds imported by the United States in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of diamonds to the US since 2020 were: France (up 417.4%), United Arab Emirates (up 381.4%), South Africa (up 114.4%) and United Kingdom (up 100.1%).
Switzerland was the sole supplier to experience a decline in the value of diamonds supplied to American importers weighed down by a -24.2% reduction year over year.
Overall, the value of America’s imported diamonds expanded by an average 62.1% from all supplying countries since 2020 when diamonds purchased cost $12.5 billion.
Diamond Imports into Hong Kong
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Hong Kong imported the highest dollar value worth of diamonds during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- India: US$6.6 billion (up 43.8% from 2020)
- China: $2 billion (up 103.1%)
- United Arab Emirates: $1.35 billion (up 44.4%)
- United States of America: $1.32 billion (up 20%)
- Belgium: $1.2 billion (down -10.7%)
- Israel: $884.9 million (up 3.4%)
- Botswana: $350.3 million (up 103.3%)
- Thailand: $307.9 million (down -9.1%)
- Japan: $264.8 million (up 25.5%)
- Switzerland: $203 million (up 42%)
- United Kingdom: $194.9 million (up 116.7%)
- Singapore: $177.9 million (up 42.6%)
- South Africa: $134.9 million (up 189%)
- France: $79.8 million (down -51.3%)
- Russia: $56.6 million (up 41.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 98.5% of diamonds imported by Hong Kong in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of diamonds to Hong Kong since 2020 were: South Africa (up 189%), United Kingdom (up 116.7%), Botswana (up 103.3%) and mainland China (up 103.1%).
A trio of main suppliers experienced declines in the value of their diamonds supplied to Hong Kong importers namely France (down -51.3%), Belgium (down -10.7%) and Thailand (down -9.1%).
Overall, the value of Hong Kong’s imported diamonds advanced by an average 34.9% from all supplying countries since 2020 when diamonds purchased cost $11.4 billion.
Diamond Imports into Belgium
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Belgium imported the highest dollar value worth of diamonds during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- India: US$2.3 billion (up 98.4% from 2020)
- Russia: $2.1 billion (up 52.6%)
- United Arab Emirates: $1.4 billion (up 74.6%)
- Botswana: $1.3 billion (up 13.9%)
- Canada: $1.1 billion (up 39.3%)
- South Africa: $725.3 million (up 23.9%)
- Angola: $606.7 million (up 88.4%)
- Israel: $379.7 million (up 45.4%)
- Lesotho: $252.3 million (down -15.1%)
- Singapore: $223.8 million (up 121%)
- Hong Kong: $209.4 million (down -19.9%)
- Namibia: $199.6 million (up 40.8%)
- China: $76.7 million (up 53.9%)
- Zimbabwe: $68 million (down -23.3%)
- Thailand: $64.3 million (down -4.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 96.4% of diamonds imported by Belgium in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of diamonds to Belgium since 2020 were: Singapore (up 121%), India (up 98.4%), Angola (up 88.4%) and United Arab Emirates (up 74.6%).
Four main suppliers experienced declines in the value of their diamonds supplied to Belgian importers namely Zimbabwe (down -23.3%), Hong Kong (down -19.9%), Lesotho (down -15.1%) and Thailand (down -4.1%).
Overall, the value of Belgium’s imported diamonds advanced by an average 43.8% from all supplying countries since 2020 when diamonds purchased cost $8 billion.
Searchable List of Diamonds Importing Countries in 2021
The top 100 importers of diamonds listed in the following database contributed 99.999% of the overall value of diamonds imported during 2021.
| Rank | Importer | Diamond Imports (US$) | 2020-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | India | $26,289,276,000 | +65.3% |
| 2. | United States | $20,225,107,000 | +62.1% |
| 3. | Hong Kong | $15,399,387,000 | +34.9% |
| 4. | Belgium | $11,461,800,000 | +43.8% |
| 5. | United Arab Emirates | $10,056,223,000 | +18.8% |
| 6. | China | $9,185,716,000 | +54.5% |
| 7. | Israel | $4,478,698,000 | +58.2% |
| 8. | Switzerland | $1,819,238,000 | +23.4% |
| 9. | Thailand | $1,739,172,000 | +35.6% |
| 10. | United Kingdom | $1,557,466,000 | +154.8% |
| 11. | Botswana | $1,493,202,000 | -25.3% |
| 12. | Singapore | $1,061,590,000 | +21.1% |
| 13. | Italy | $784,864,000 | +79.9% |
| 14. | South Africa | $669,686,000 | +72.9% |
| 15. | France | $662,052,000 | +38.4% |
| 16. | Japan | $626,417,000 | +33.8% |
| 17. | Australia | $515,110,000 | +40.5% |
| 18. | Vietnam | $472,117,000 | +137.1% |
| 19. | Canada | $396,925,000 | +53.1% |
| 20. | Germany | $226,818,000 | +15.9% |
| 21. | Russia | $169,334,000 | +66.8% |
| 22. | Turkey | $133,371,000 | +10.2% |
| 23. | Armenia | $123,346,000 | +33.4% |
| 24. | Mexico | $118,769,000 | +54.1% |
| 25. | Sri Lanka | $114,330,000 | +37.3% |
| 26. | South Korea | $112,075,000 | +37.4% |
| 27. | Mauritius | $77,528,000 | +79.5% |
| 28. | Malaysia | $71,928,000 | +50.3% |
| 29. | Taiwan | $69,912,000 | +3.2% |
| 30. | Spain | $54,532,000 | +88.4% |
| 31. | British Virgin Is | $50,103,000 | +184.9% |
| 32. | Cambodia | $49,673,000 | +36% |
| 33. | Indonesia | $46,368,000 | +71.1% |
| 34. | Lebanon | $45,244,000 | -83.4% |
| 35. | Macao | $35,975,000 | +531.4% |
| 36. | Netherlands | $32,991,000 | +49.7% |
| 37. | New Zealand | $31,735,000 | +25.4% |
| 38. | Nepal | $29,057,000 | +375% |
| 39. | Ireland | $28,161,000 | +53.4% |
| 40. | Bahrain | $24,950,000 | +184.7% |
| 41. | Austria | $23,489,000 | +81.1% |
| 42. | Curaçao | $20,909,000 | +189982% |
| 43. | Saudi Arabia | $20,390,000 | +64% |
| 44. | Denmark | $20,279,000 | +26.2% |
| 45. | Czech Republic | $17,278,000 | +19.8% |
| 46. | Brazil | $15,889,000 | +172.5% |
| 47. | Sweden | $14,656,000 | +70.6% |
| 48. | Panama | $12,373,000 | +728.2% |
| 49. | Poland | $10,415,000 | +39% |
| 50. | Laos | $9,815,000 | +27.8% |
| 51. | Norway | $9,665,000 | +23.4% |
| 52. | Namibia | $9,375,000 | -87.5% |
| 53. | Cyprus | $7,079,000 | +39.4% |
| 54. | Egypt | $6,388,000 | +139.3% |
| 55. | Morocco | $6,332,000 | +33.7% |
| 56. | Greece | $5,964,000 | +29.5% |
| 57. | Bulgaria | $4,642,000 | +739.4% |
| 58. | Qatar | $4,498,000 | +297.7% |
| 59. | Finland | $3,344,000 | +6.6% |
| 60. | Jordan | $2,855,000 | +121.7% |
| 61. | Peru | $2,601,000 | +90.8% |
| 62. | Tunisia | $2,255,000 | +160.4% |
| 63. | Dominican Republic | $2,223,000 | +87.4% |
| 64. | Malta | $1,882,000 | +106.1% |
| 65. | Slovenia | $1,548,000 | +109.5% |
| 66. | Kuwait | $1,526,000 | -23.1% |
| 67. | Ukraine | $1,496,000 | +27% |
| 68. | Serbia | $1,038,000 | +111.4% |
| 69. | Eswatini | $1,005,000 | 0% |
| 70. | Croatia | $944,000 | -9.5% |
| 71. | Slovakia | $851,000 | -9.7% |
| 72. | Andorra | $824,000 | +42.3% |
| 73. | Colombia | $812,000 | +211.1% |
| 74. | Luxembourg | $766,000 | +3.2% |
| 75. | Hungary | $763,000 | +54.8% |
| 76. | Lithuania | $726,000 | +3.1% |
| 77. | Philippines | $660,000 | +27.7% |
| 78. | New Caledonia | $634,000 | +38.4% |
| 79. | Aruba | $606,000 | +16.8% |
| 80. | Estonia | $597,000 | +214.2% |
| 81. | Chile | $499,000 | +73.3% |
| 82. | Cayman Islands | $474,000 | -9.4% |
| 83. | Costa Rica | $439,000 | +897.7% |
| 84. | El Salvador | $424,000 | +96.3% |
| 85. | Bermuda | $414,000 | +132.6% |
| 86. | Portugal | $377,000 | -50.1% |
| 87. | Iceland | $373,000 | +45.1% |
| 88. | Sierra Leone | $294,000 | -19.2% |
| 89. | Uzbekistan | $283,000 | 0% |
| 90. | Latvia | $240,000 | +336.4% |
| 91. | Gibraltar | $240,000 | -34.1% |
| 92. | Bahamas | $223,000 | 0% |
| 93. | Albania | $203,000 | 0% |
| 94. | Guatemala | $192,000 | +57.4% |
| 95. | Mongolia | $191,000 | 0% |
| 96. | Oman | $189,000 | -95.4% |
| 97. | Myanmar | $173,000 | 0% |
| 98. | Saint Kitts/Nevis | $172,000 | +201.8% |
| 99. | Timor-Leste | $142,000 | +230.2% |
| 100. | French Polynesia | $126,000 | +21.2% |
Expanding the scope of our analysis to the top 100 buyers, the fastest-growing importers of diamonds from international markets were: Curaçao (up 189,982%), Costa Rica (up 897.7%), Bulgaria (up 739.4%), Panama (up 728.2%), Macao (up 531.4%) and Nepal (up 374%).
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the above table columns. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that 2020 data was unavailable.
See also Diamonds Exports by Country, America’s Top Trading Partners, India’s Top Trading Partners, India’s Top Trading Partners and Exported Paintings and Drawings by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on July 7, 2021
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 7, 2021
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 7, 2021
