DIAMOND, INDUSTRIAL—2000 24.1

Industrial Diamond in the 20th Century

The utilitarian role of diamond was confined to lapidary

products until industrialization created the first demand for

diamond as an industrial tool for precision cutting and as

abrasive material set in saw blades and drill bits. Few

statistical data are available on abrasive diamond prior to

1911, when the United States imported $110,434 in diamond

dust and bort, primarily from South Africa. After World War

I, with the development of cemented carbide cutting tools,

diamond was found to be the most effective medium for

finishing and grinding the new ultrahard metal. This

discovery rapidly increased the demand for industrial

diamond. There was almost no U.S. diamond production until

the early 1930s, when a relatively small diamond deposit near

Murfreesboro, AR, was developed. By 1937, about twothirds, by weight, of all diamond sold each year was used for

abrasive purposes, and U.S. imports of abrasive diamond,

primarily from South Africa and Brazil, were valued at just

under $7 million. World War II, with its increased use of

hard-metal tools in the munitions industry, further increased

the demand for industrial diamond.

In 2000, synthetic diamond accounted for more than 90% of

the industrial diamond market. The United States was the

world’s largest market for industrial diamond, as well as the

largest producer of synthetic industrial diamond, with

estimated production of 248 million carats. In 2000, U.S.

imports of an estimated 293 million carats of industrial

diamond stone, bort, grit, dust, and powder, primarily from

Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, were

valued at about $125 million. In 1955, General Electric Co.

announced that its laboratories had succeeded in

manufacturing synthetic diamond from carbonaceous material. 

Economic commercial production of synthetic industrial

diamond was achieved by the early 1960s. The manufacture

and use of synthetic diamond steadily increased. By the end

of the 1960s, domestic production of synthetic industrial

diamond had increased to 13 million carats per year, and by

the early 1980s, production had reached 57 million carats per

year. In 2000, synthetic industrial diamond could be made in

a relatively short time, and its performance in specific end-use

applications exceeded that of natural diamond.

DIAMOND, INDUSTRIAL

By Donald W. Olson

Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Christine K. Pisut, statistical assistant, and the world production tables

were prepared by Regina R. Coleman, international data coordinator.

Diamond is best known for its gem qualities, but some of its

unique properties make it ideal for many industrial and research

applications as well. Current information on gem-grade

diamond can be found in the U.S. Geological Survey minerals

yearbook chapter on gemstones. Diamond is the hardest

known material and has the highest thermal conductivity of any

material at room temperature (May, 1995). Diamond is more

than twice as hard as cubic boron nitride or silicon nitride,

which are the nearest competitors (Ravi, 1994, p. 537). 

Because it is the hardest substance known, diamond has been

used for centuries as an abrasive in grinding, drilling, cutting,

and polishing, and industrial-grade diamond continues to be

used as an abrasive for many applications. Diamond that does

not meet gem-quality standards for clarity, color, shape, or size

is used as industrial-grade diamond. Even though it has higher

unit cost, diamond has proven to be more cost effective in

many industrial processes because it cuts faster and lasts longer

than its rival abrasive materials (Boucher, 1997, p. 26.6). 

Diamond also has chemical, electrical, optical, and thermal

characteristics that make it the best material available to

industry for wear- and corrosion-resistant coatings, special

lenses, heat sinks in electrical circuits, wire drawing, and

advanced technologies. 

Both synthetic and natural diamonds have industrial uses, but

synthetic industrial diamond is superior to its natural

counterpart because it can be produced in large quantities. In

many cases, its properties can be tailored to specific

applications (Boucher, 1996). It is for these reasons that

manufactured diamond accounts for more than 90% of the

industrial diamond used in the United States and the world.

Legislation and Government Programs

Congress has authorized the sale of all the diamonds in the

National Defense Stockpile (NDS), which is managed by the

Department of Defense (DOD). The NDS 2000 annual plan

allowed for the sale of a portion of the stockpiled diamond

stones. During 2000, the Defense National Stockpile Center

(DNSC) sold 989,140 carats of diamond stone (valued at $33.44

million). At yearend 2000, the DNSC reported an NDS

remaining inventory of about 1.508 million carats of industrial

diamond stone valued at $15.08 million (Defense National

Stockpile Center, 2000a, 2000b). The DOD plans to conduct

additional future sales until all NDS diamond stone stocks are

exhausted. Further NDS information is available in the “Prices”

section of this report.

Production

The U.S. Geological Survey conducts an annual survey of

domestic industrial diamond producers and U.S. firms that

recover diamond wastes. Although most of these companies

responded to the 2000 survey, a few significant firms withheld

certain data that they deemed confidential. Thus, only estimates

of U.S. primary and secondary output are provided in this

review.
24.2 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2000

As one of the world’s leading producers of synthetic

industrial diamond, the United States accounted for an

estimated output of 248 million carats in 2000. Only two U.S.

companies produced synthetic industrial diamond during the

year—Mypodiamond, Inc., Gibbstown, NJ, and GE

Superabrasives, Worthington, OH. General Electric Co.,

Fairfield, CT, which owns GE Superabrasives and other

diamond manufacturing plants abroad, is one of the world’s

largest producers of industrial diamond.

In 2000, nine firms also manufactured polycrystalline

diamond (PCD) from synthetic diamond grit and powder. 

These companies were the Dennis Tool Co., Houston, TX; GE

Superabrasives, Worthington, OH; Novatek Inc., Provo, UT;

Phoenix Crystal Corp., Ann Arbor, MI; Precorp Inc., Provo,

UT; SII Megadiamond Industries Inc., Provo, UT; Tempo

Technology Corp., Somerset, NJ; U.S. Synthetic Corp., Orem,

UT; and Western Diamond Products, Salt Lake City, UT.

It is estimated that more than 10.1 million carats of used

industrial diamond were recycled in the United States during

2000. Most of this material was recovered by recycling firms

from used diamond drill bits, diamond tools, and other

diamond-containing wastes. Additional diamond was

recovered during the year from residues generated in the

manufacture of PCD; most of this material was recovered for

PCD from within the production operations of the PCD

producing companies (Wilson Born, National Research

Company, oral commun., 2001).

The recovery and sale of industrial diamond was the

principal business of four U.S. companies in 2000: Industrial

Diamond Laboratory Inc., Bronx, NY; Industrial Diamond

Powders Co., Pittsburgh, PA; International Diamond Services

Inc., Houston, TX; and National Research Company, Fraser,

MI. In addition to these companies, other domestic firms may

have recovered industrial diamond in smaller secondary

operations.

Consumption

The United States remained the world’s largest market for

industrial diamond in 2000. Based on production estimates and

trade data, the apparent U.S. consumption of industrial

diamond during the year increased to an estimated 484 million

carats, which was a record high. This growth primarily reflects

expanded output in many domestic industries where diamond is

used. The major consuming industries of industrial diamond in

the United States during 2000 were construction, machinery

manufacturing, mining services (drilling), stone cutting/

polishing, and transportation systems (infrastructure and

vehicles). Within these sectors, stone cutting and highway

building/repair together made up the largest demand for

industrial diamond. The manufacture of every automobile

made in the United States consumes 1.5 carats of industrial

diamond. Research and high technology uses included closetolerance machining of ceramic parts for the aerospace

industry, heat sinks for electronic circuits, lenses for laser

radiation equipment, and polishing silicon wafers and disk

drives in the computer industry (Bailey and Bex, 1995).

Diamond tools have myriad industrial functions. Diamond

drilling bits and reaming shells are used principally for gas,

mineral, and oil exploration. Other applications of diamond

bits and reaming shells include foundation testing, masonry

drilling, and inspecting concrete in various structures. The

primary uses of point diamond tools are for dressing and truing

grinding wheels and for cutting, machining, boring, and

finishing; beveling glass for automobile windows is another

application. Cutting dimension stone and cutting/grooving

concrete in highway reconditioning are the major uses of

diamond saws; other applications include cutting composites

and forming refractory shapes for furnace linings. Very fine

diamond saws are used to slice brittle metals and crystals into

thin wafers for electronic and electrical devices. Diamond wire

dies are essential for high-speed drawing of fine wire, especially

from hard, high-strength metals and alloys. The primary uses of

diamond grinding wheels include edging plate glass, grinding

dies, grinding parts for optical instruments, and sharpening and

shaping carbide machine tool tips.

Two types of natural diamond are used by industry: diamond

stone (generally larger than 60 mesh/800 microns) and diamond

bort (smaller, fragmented material). Diamond stone is

employed primarily in drilling bits and reaming shells used by

mining companies; it also is incorporated in single- or multiplepoint diamond tools, diamond saws, diamond wheels, and

diamond wire dies. Diamond bort is used for drilling bits and as

a loose grain abrasive for polishing. Other tools that

incorporate natural diamond include engraving points, glass

cutters, bearings, and surgical instruments.

Synthetic diamond grit and powder are used in diamond

grinding wheels, saws, impregnated bits and tools, and as loose

abrasive compounds for polishing. Diamond grinding wheels

can be as much as 1 meter in diameter.

Loose powders and compounds made of synthetic diamond

for polishing are used primarily to finish optical surfaces, jewel

bearings, gemstones, wiredrawing dies, cutting tools, and

silicon wafers for computer chips. Hundreds of other products

made from metals, ceramics, plastics, and glass also are finished

with diamond powders and compounds.

The use of polycrystalline diamond shapes (PDS) and

polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDC) continues to increase

for many of the applications cited above, including some of

those that employ natural diamond. The use of PDS, PDC, and

matrix-set synthetic diamond grit for drilling bits and reaming

shells has increased in recent years. PDS and PDC are used in

the manufacture of single- and multiple-point tools, and PDC is

used in a majority of the diamond wire-drawing dies.

Prices

Natural and synthetic industrial diamonds differ significantly

in price (Boucher, 1997, p. 26.6). Natural industrial diamond

normally has a more limited range of values. Its price varies

from about $0.45 per carat for bort-size material to about $7 to

$25 per carat for most stone. Synthetic industrial diamond has a

much larger range of prices than natural diamond. Prices of

synthetic diamond vary according to size, shape, crystallinity,

and the absence or presence of metal coatings. In general,

synthetic diamond prices for grinding and polishing range from

as low as $0.10 per carat to $0.95 per carat. Strong and blocky

material for sawing and drilling sells for $1.50 to $4.75 per

carat. Large synthetic crystals with excellent structure for

specific applications sell for several hundred dollars per carat.

In 2000, the DNSC had awarded bids that ranged from $1.44

to $151.00 per carat for NDS diamond stone sold, with the

average awarded bid being $33.80 per carat (Defense National

Stockpile Center, 2000a, b). 
DIAMOND, INDUSTRIAL—2000 24.3

Foreign Trade

The United States continued to lead the world in industrial

diamond trade during 2000; imports came from 36 countries

(tables 1, 2), and exports/reexports went to 55 countries (tables

3, 4). Although the United States has been a major producer of

synthetic diamond for decades, its growing domestic markets

have become more reliant on foreign sources of industrial

diamond in recent years. U.S. markets for natural industrial

diamond always have been dependent on imports and

secondary recovery operations, because domestic production of

natural diamond was unable to meet demand.

During 2000, U.S. imports of industrial quality diamond

stones (natural and synthetic) decreased by 20% from 1999

imports to 2.52 million carats valued at $13.4 million (table 1). 

Imports of diamond powder, dust, and grit (natural and

synthetic) increased by 39% from 1999 imports to 291 million

carats valued at $111 million (table 2).

During 2000, U.S. exports and reexports of industrial

diamond stone decreased by approximately 9% from 1999

exports and reexports to 3.62 million carats valued at $34.6

million (table 3). Additionally, U.S. exports and reexports of

industrial diamond powder, dust, and grit decreased slightly

from 1999 exports and reexports to 100 million carats valued at

$71.8 million (table 4). Reexports can account for a significant

portion of total exports/reexports; therefore, exports and

reexports are listed separately in tables 3 and 4 so that U.S.

trade and consumption can be calculated more accurately.

World Review

Total industrial diamond output worldwide during 2000 was

estimated to be well above 800 million carats; analyst reports

estimated that global output, which was valued between $600

million and $1 billion, was at least 600 million carats (Norman

Rohr, Warren Diamond Powder Co., Inc., oral commun., 1999;

Wilson Born, National Research Company, oral commun.,

2000). World demand for industrial diamond in the 1990s had

been growing at rates of more than 10% per year (Boucher,

1997, p. 26.6). 

Industrial diamond was produced in 30 countries during

2000 (tables 5, 6). In addition to the countries listed in table 6,

Germany and the Republic of Korea produced synthetic

diamond (Norman Rohr, Warren Diamond Powder Co., Inc.,

oral commun., 1999), but specific data on their output could

not be confirmed. China may have produced much more than

the output shown in the table (Owers, 2000; Wilson Born,

National Research Company, oral commun., 2001).

In 2000, approximately 70% of the total global natural and

synthetic industrial diamond output was produced in Ireland,

Russia, and the United States. The dominance of synthetic

diamond was even more pronounced, accounting for more than

90% of global production and consumption.

The Ekati Mine, Canada’s first commercial diamond mine,

completed its second full year of production. The Ekati Mine,

located in the Northwest Territories, was a joint venture

between BHP Diamonds Inc. (BHP) and Dia Met Minerals

Ltd., but in June 2001, BHP purchased Dia Met Minerals Ltd.

(BHP Diamonds Inc., 2001). Ekati has estimated reserves of

60.3 million metric tons (Mt) of ore in kimberlite pipes,

containing 54.3 million carats of diamonds, and the mine life is

projected to be 25 years. In 2000, Ekati produced 2.63 million

carats (Luc Rombouts, Terraconsult bvba, May 2, 2001,

Diamond annual review—2000, accessed June 19, 2001, at

URL http://www.terraconsult.be/overview.htm). 

Approximately one-third of the Ekati diamond production is

industrial-grade material (Darren Dyck, Senior Project

Geologist, BHP Diamonds Inc., oral commun., May 27, 2001).

Two other Canadian commercial diamond mines located in

the Northwest Territories are expected to commence diamond

production in the first half of 2003. They are the Diavik

diamonds project and the Snap Lake diamond project. Diavik

has estimated reserves of 25.6 Mt of ore in kimberlite pipes,

containing 102 million carats of diamonds, and the mine life is

projected to be 20 years. Diavik is expected to produce about

102 million carats of diamond at a rate of 6 million carats per

year worth about $63 per carat (Diavik Diamond Mines Inc.,

2000, p. 10-12). The Snap Lake diamond project was acquired

by De Beers Canada Mining Inc. from Winspear Diamonds Inc.

and Aber Diamond Corporation in 2000. Snap Lake will be De

Beers’ first mine outside of southern Africa and the first

underground diamond mine in Canada. Snap Lake has

estimated reserves of 22.8 Mt of ore in a kimberlite dike,

containing 38.8 million carats of diamonds, and the mine life is

projected to be 20 years or more (De Beers Canada Mining Inc.,

2000, Snap Lake diamond project fact sheet, accessed June 13,

2001, at URL http://www.debeerscanada.com/files_new/snap/

infrastruct.html).

Diamond exploration is continuing in Canada, and many new

deposits are being found. There have been additional

discoveries in both the core and buffer zones of the Ekati lease. 

At least 35 kimberlites have been discovered in north-central

Alberta, and 70 large kimberlites have been found in

Saskatchewan. Additional discoveries have been made in

Ontario and Quebec (Luc Rombouts, Terraconsult bvba, May 2,

2001, Diamond annual review—2000, accessed June 19, 2001,

at URL http://www.terraconsult.be/overview.htm). When the

Diavik and Snap Lake mines begin production, Canada will be

producing at least 15% to 20% of the total world natural

diamond production. This will make Canada a significant

producer of natural industrial diamond, as well as of gemquality diamond. 

Outlook

The United States will continue to be the world’s largest

market for industrial diamond well into the next decade, and it

will remain a significant producer and exporter of industrial

diamond.

The strength of U.S. demand will depend on the vitality of the

Nation’s industrial base and on how well the life cycle cost

effectiveness of diamond compares with competing materials

that initially are less expensive. The many advantages that

diamond offers for precision machining and longer tool life,

which compensate for increases in other production line costs,

seem certain to spur demand for diamond tools. In fact, even

the use of wear-resistant diamond coatings to increase the life of

materials that compete with diamond promises to be a rapidly

growing application (May, 1995). Increased tool life not only

leads to lower costs per unit of output but also means fewer tool

changes and longer unattended production runs (Advanced

Materials & Processes, 1998). In view of the many advantages

that come from increased tool life and reports that diamond film

surfaces can increase durability by a factor of 50 (Advanced

Materials & Processes, 1998), much wider use of diamond as an
24.4 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2000

engineering material is expected.

The most dramatic increase in U.S. demand for industrial

diamond is likely to occur in the construction sector as the

$200 billion Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century

(Public Law 105-178, enacted June 9, 1998) is further

implemented. The act provides funding for building and repair

of the Nation’s highway system through 2003. Demand for

saw-grade diamond alone is expected to increase by more than

$1 billion during the coming year to fulfill goals mandated by

the act for the repair and replacement of roads, bridges, and

other components in the transportation infrastructure of the

country (Wilson Born, National Research Company, oral

commun., 2001).

According to industry sources, PCD for abrasive tools and

wear parts will continue to replace competing materials in

many industrial applications by providing closer tolerances, as

well as extending tool life. For example, PDC and PDS will

continue to displace natural diamond stone and tungsten

carbide products used in the drilling and tooling industries

(Wilson Born, National Research Company, written commun.,

1998).

Truing and dressing applications will remain a major

domestic end use for natural industrial diamond stone. The

stone cannot be manufactured commercially. No shortage of

the stone is anticipated, however, because new mines and more

producers selling in the rough diamond market will maintain

ample supplies. More competition introduced by the additional

sources also may temper price increases.

World demand for industrial diamond will continue to

increase during the next few years. Constant-dollar prices of

synthetic diamond products, including chemical-vapordeposition diamond films, will decline as production

technologies become more cost-effective and competition

increases from low-cost producers in China and Russia.

References Cited

Advanced Materials & Processes, 1998, Diamond coating increases carbide tool

life by 50x: Advanced Materials & Processes, v. 154, no. 2, August, p. 20.

Bailey, M.W., and Bex, P.A., 1995, Industrial diamond—A brief history, a long

future: Finer Points, v. 7, no. 4, p. 35-39.

Boucher, Michel, 1996, Overview of the diamond industry, in Industrial

Minerals ’96, Toronto, 1996, Proceedings: Toronto, Blendon Information

Services, [unpaginated].

———1997, Diamonds: Ottawa, Canadian Minerals Yearbook 1996, p. 26.1-

26.19.

Defense National Stockpile Center, 2000a, Stockpile awards diamond stones: 

Fort Belvoir, VA, Defense National Stockpile Center news release, April 19,

6 p.

———2000b, Stockpile awards diamond stones: Fort Belvoir, VA, Defense

National Stockpile Center news release, August 3, 6 p.

Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., 2000, Diavik annual social and environmental

report—2000: Yellowknife, NT, Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., 74 p.

May, P.W., 1995, CVD diamond—A new technology for the future: 

Endeavour Magazine, v. 19, no. 3, p. 101-106.

Owers, Chris, 2000, Industrial diamond—Applications, economics and a view

to the future: Industrial Diamond Review, v. 60, no. 586, p. 176-181.

Ravi, K.V., 1994, Technological applications of CVD diamond, in Spear, K.E.,

and Dismuks, J.P., eds., Synthetic diamond—Emerging CVD science and

technology: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, p. 533-580.

GENERAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

U.S. Geological Survey Publications

Abrasives. Ch. in United States Mineral Resources,

Professional Paper 820, 1973.

Diamond (Industrial). Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries,

annual.

Gemstones. Ch. in Minerals Yearbook, annual.

Diamond, Industrial. Ch. in Minerals Yearbook, annual.

Other

De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd., annual report, 1998, 1999,

2000.

Diamond, Industrial. Ch. in Mineral Facts and Problems, U.S.

Bureau of Mines, Bulletin 675, 1985.

Finer Points (quarterly).

Industrial Diamond Review (bimonthly).

World Diamond Industry Directory & Yearbook 1998-99.
TABLE 1

U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF INDUSTRIAL DIAMOND STONES, BY COUNTRY 1/

(Thousand carats and thousand dollars)

Natural industrial diamond stones 2/ Miners' diamond, natural and synthetic 3/

1999 2000 1999 2000

Country Quantity Value 4/ Quantity Value 4/ Quantity Value 4/ Quantity Value 4/

Belgium 144 2,980 111 334 53 846 41 567

China 2 14 2 7 1 13 9 10

Congo (Kinshasa) 25 30 1 10 -- -- 1 22

Ghana 159 672 67 292 49 772 57 352

India 4 27 33 46 -- -- (5/) 5

Ireland 203 594 322 757 1 23 31 94

South Africa 36 51 8 36 (5/) 10 1 71

Switzerland 3 48 5 76 676 1,170 691 940

United Kingdom 398 517 489 330 215 4,900 338 8,390

Other 835 1,300 117 499 328 343 198 521

 Total 1,810 6,230 1,150 2,390 1,320 8,090 1,370 11,000

-- Zero.

1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2/ Includes glazers' and engravers' diamond unset, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) codes 7102.21.3000

and 7102.21.4000.

3/ HTS codes 7102.21.1010 and 7102.21.1020.

4/ Customs value.

5/ Less than 1/2 unit.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

TABLE 2

U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF DIAMOND POWDER, DUST AND GRIT, BY COUNTRY 1/

(Thousand carats and thousand dollars)

Synthetic 2/ Natural 2/

1999 2000 1999 2000

Country Quantity Value 3/ Quantity Value 3/ Quantity Value 3/ Quantity Value 3/

Belgium 2,130 1,580 1,890 946 4,500 3,730 6,400 4,440

China 33,500 6,040 37,700 5,220 227 173 3,140 281

France -- -- 20 27 -- -- -- -- 

Germany 75 58 2,390 3,320 78 81 144 69

Ghana 87 53 93 31 257 194 69 117

Hong Kong 217 121 1,550 161 -- -- -- -- 

India 1,820 519 2,240 585 1,350 393 1,150 394

Ireland 97,000 56,400 140,000 69,900 2,250 1,670 2,070 984

Japan 4,420 2,800 6,540 3,040 401 588 913 1,640

Korea, Republic of 9,860 6,460 11,000 6,640 11 6 -- -- 

Russia 5,220 1,180 6,230 1,330 23 4 62 16

Switzerland 3,570 3,020 3,300 1,780 1,520 1,090 1,840 1,250

United Kingdom 2,070 950 4,150 1,140 1,440 412 815 293

Other 34,300 4,450 56,900 7,420 2,230 293 390 403

 Total 194,000 83,700 274,000 102,000 14,300 8,630 17,000 9,890

-- Zero.

1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2/ Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States codes: synthetic, 7105.10.0020, 7105.10.0030, and

7105.10.0050; natural, 7105.10.0011 and 7105.10.0045.

3/ Customs value.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
TABLE 3

U.S. EXPORTS AND REEXPORTS OF INDUSTRIAL 

DIAMOND STONES, BY COUNTRY 1/

(Thousand carats and thousand dollars)

Industrial unworked diamonds 2/

1999 2000

Country Quantity Value 3/ Quantity Value 3/

Exports:

 Belgium 17 141 320 3,940

 Canada 117 410 237 845

 Germany 79 473 52 366

 Hong Kong 5 41 50 504

 Ireland 7 47 3 32

 Israel -- -- 42 419

 Italy -- -- 9 13

 Japan 351 3,480 446 4,220

 Korea, Republic of 80 713 64 649

 Netherlands 1 12 1 14

 Switzerland 12 118 10 100

 United Kingdom 16 157 6 50

 Other 61 491 320 2,150

 Total 746 6,080 1,560 13,300

Reexports:

 Belgium 2,700 25,400 1,180 13,100

 Canada 64 278 66 214

 Germany 15 150 89 504

 Hong Kong 12 123 10 48

 Ireland 10 99 33 237

 Israel 129 1,630 190 2,020

 Japan 110 1,150 124 1,270

 Korea, Republic of 92 833 75 787

 Netherlands 4 43 2 23

 Switzerland 1 7 256 2,700

 United Kingdom 27 257 12 119

 Other 57 580 26 240

 Total 3,220 30,600 2,060 21,300

 Grand total 3,970 36,700 3,620 34,600

-- Zero.

1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add 

to totals shown.

2/ Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States code 7102.21.0000.

3/ Customs value.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
TABLE 4

U.S. EXPORTS AND REEXPORTS OF INDUSTRIAL DIAMOND POWDER, DUST, AND GRIT, 

BY COUNTRY 1/

(Thousand carats and thousand dollars)

Synthetic 2/ Natural 2/

1999 2000 1999 2000

Country Quantity Value 3/ Quantity Value 3/ Quantity Value 3/ Quantity Value 3/

Exports:

 Australia 50 53 73 81 -- -- 7 10

 Austria 2,670 1,480 2,150 1,420 312 138 426 315

 Belgium 1,430 827 1,690 841 237 157 273 284

 Brazil 1,890 1,010 2,050 1,070 -- -- -- -- 

 Canada 1,370 1,420 1,470 1,950 89 180 163 248

 China 185 59 2 3 183 31 49 11

 France 153 57 586 135 51 114 183 57

 Germany 4,790 2,530 4,460 2,720 199 104 384 144

 Hong Kong 482 395 882 540 147 52 102 125

 India 3,230 1,180 1,400 564 104 56 11 3

 Ireland 27,400 25,400 28,700 26,300 258 69 68 52

 Israel 481 192 819 318 142 29 157 52

 Italy 1,860 842 1,450 546 188 108 200 219

 Japan 19,100 10,800 23,300 13,200 414 590 905 1,990

 Korea, Republic of 12,100 5,920 13,100 6,630 969 445 262 165

 Luxembourg 35 13 20 7 119 79 117 92

 Macao 30 17 6 7 22 7 -- -- 

 Malaysia 447 173 653 481 -- -- 2 6

 Mexico 1,020 840 429 218 66 73 133 78

 Singapore 1,210 287 124 70 3 10 5 9

 Switzerland 1,920 1,230 1,490 1,260 787 1,190 2,820 3,590

 Taiwan 5,840 2,930 1,700 1,540 355 95 94 193

 Thailand 368 210 133 96 24 23 2 4

 United Kingdom 2,250 1,460 2,870 1,040 2,110 1,500 496 284

 Other 1,180 693 979 804 137 125 509 437

 Total 91,500 60,000 90,600 61,800 6,920 5,180 7,370 8,370

Reexports:

 Austria -- -- 156 29 -- -- 55 11

 Belgium 189 255 9 13 2 7 9 25

 Bermuda -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 5

 Canada 361 755 539 755 50 101 41 50

 China 23 29 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

 France -- -- -- -- -- -- 7 5

 Germany -- -- 31 20 -- -- 1 3

 Hong Kong 337 347 130 49 -- -- 35 14

 India -- -- 34 6 1,350 1,190 89 223

 Ireland 2 9 125 99 -- -- 44 32

 Israel -- -- 10 3 -- -- -- -- 

 Italy -- -- 19 5 -- -- -- -- 

 Japan 212 114 130 53 -- -- 16 40

 Korea, Republic of 25 18 249 70 -- -- -- -- 

 Luxembourg -- -- -- -- -- -- 13 12

 Malaysia 121 27 38 9 -- -- -- -- 

 Mexico 23 47 35 17 1 5 24 13

 Poland -- -- 4 3 -- -- 2 4

 Switzerland 3 4 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

 Taiwan -- -- 19 14 -- -- 7 5

 Thailand 16 9 37 20 4 13 -- -- 

 United Kingdom 88 24 21 27 9 11 71 18

 Total 1,400 1,640 1,590 1,190 1,410 1,320 416 459

 Grand total 92,900 61,600 92,200 63,000 8,330 6,500 7,790 8,830

-- Zero.

1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2/ Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States codes: synthetic, 7105.10.0025; natural, 7105.10.0010.

3/ Customs value.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
TABLE 5

NATURAL DIAMOND: ESTIMATED WORLD PRODUCTION, BY TYPE AND COUNTRY 1/ 2/

(Thousand carats)

Country 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Gemstones: 3/

 Angola 2,250 1,110 2,400 3,700 r/ 5,400 

 Australia 18,897 4/ 18,100 18,400 13,403 4/ 12,014 4/

 Botswana 12,388 r/ 4/ 15,111 r/ 4/ 14,772 r/ 4/ 16,000 r/ 19,700

 Brazil 200 300 300 300 300

 Canada -- -- 300 2,000 2,000 

 Central African Republic 350 400 330 400 400

 China 230 230 230 230 230

 Congo (Kinshasa) 3,300 r/ 3,300 r/ 5,080 r/ 4,120 r/ 3,500

 Cote d' Ivoire 202 207 210 210 200

 Ghana 142 664 649 518 r/ 178

 Guinea 165 165 300 410 r/ 410

 Liberia 60 80 150 120 r/ 120

 Namibia 1,402 4/ 1,350 r/ 1,390 r/ 1,550 r/ 1,520

 Russia 10,500 11,200 r/ 11,500 11,500 11,600

 Sierra Leone 162 4/ 300 200 450 r/ 450

 South Africa 4,400 4,500 4,300 4,000 4,300

 Venezuela 99 158 80 r/ 59 r/ 60

 Zimbabwe 300 321 10 15 r/ 7

 Other 165 124 r/ 106 207 r/ 258

 Total 55,200 r/ 57,600 r/ 60,800 r/ 59,200 r/ 62,600

Industrial: 

 Angola 250 124 364 400 r/ 600

 Australia 23,096 4/ 22,100 22,500 16,381 4/ 14,684 4/

 Botswana 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,350 r/ 4,950

 Brazil 600 600 600 600 600

 Central African Republic 120 100 200 150 150

 China 900 900 900 920 920

 Congo (Kinshasa) 18,940 r/ 4/ 18,677 r/ 4/ 21,000 r/ 16,000 r/ 14,200

 Cote d' Ivoire 100 100 100 100 100

 Ghana 573 166 160 128 r/ 712

 Guinea 40 40 100 140 r/ 140

 Liberia 90 120 150 80 r/ 80

 Namibia -- 71 73 89 r/ 80

 Russia 10,500 11,200 r/ 11,600 11,500 11,600

 Sierra Leone 108 100 50 150 r/ 150

 South Africa 5,550 5,540 6,460 6,020 r/ 6,480

 Venezuela 73 90 17 r/ 36 r/ 40

 Zimbabwe 137 100 19 30 r/ 13

 Other 120 105 97 141 r/ 143

 Total 66,200 r/ 65,100 r/ 69,300 r/ 58,200 r/ 55,600

 Grand total 121,000 r/ 123,000 r/ 130,000 r/ 117,000 r/ 118,000

r/ Revised. -- Zero.

1/ World totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals 

shown.

2/ Table includes data available through May 25, 2001. 

3/ Includes near- and cheap-gem qualities.

4/ Reported figure.
TABLE 6

SYNTHETIC DIAMOND: ESTIMATED WORLD PRODUCTION,

BY COUNTRY 1/ 2/ 3/

(Thousand carats)

Country 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Belarus 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000

China 15,500 16,000 16,500 16,500 16,800

Czech Republic 5,000 5,000 5,000 3,000 --

France 3,000 3,500 3,000 3,000 3,000

Greece 750 750 750 750 750

Ireland 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000

Japan 32,000 32,000 32,000 32,000 33,000

Poland 250 4/ 260 210 200 --

Romania 5,000 5,000 3,000 3,000 --

Russia 80,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 80,000

Slovakia 5,000 5,000 5,000 3,000 --

South Africa 60,000 60,000 60,000 -- --

Sweden 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 20,000

Ukraine 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000

United States 114,000 125,000 140,000 208,000 248,000

 Total 439,000 451,000 463,000 467,000 495,000

-- Zero.

1/ World totals, U.S. data, and estimated data are rounded to no more than three

significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2/ Table includes data available through May 25, 2001.

3/ In addition to the countries listed, the Republic of Korea also produced significant

amounts of synthetic diamond, but output was not officially reported, and available

information is inadequate to formulate reliable estimates of output levels.

4/ Reported figure.