DIAMOND, INDUSTRIAL—1998 23.1

DIAMOND, INDUSTRIAL

By Ronald F. Balazik

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

was prepared by Glenn J. Wallace, international data coordinator.

Diamond may well be the world’s most versatile engineering

material as well as its most famous gemstone. The superiority

of diamond in so many diverse industrial applications is

attributable to a unique combination of properties that cannot

be matched by any other material. For example, diamond is the

strongest and hardest known material and has the highest

thermal conductivity of any material at room temperature (May

1995).

As the hardest substance known (more than twice as hard as

its nearest competitors1), diamond has been used since biblical

times2 as a grinding, drilling, cutting, and polishing tool

(Yoder, 1994, p. 3). Today, industrial-grade diamond (i.e.,

diamond that does not meet gem-quality standards for color,

clarity, size, or shape) continues to be used principally as an

abrasive in many applications despite its higher cost. Even

though it is more expensive than competing abrasive materials,

diamond has proven to be more cost effective in numerous

industrial processes because it cuts faster and lasts longer than

any rival (Boucher, 1997). 

In addition to its utility as an abrasive, diamond has other

exceptional properties (e.g., chemical, electrical, and optical

characteristics) that make it ideal for many industrial

uses—including wear- and corrosion-resistant coatings, special

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

well as for research and development in advanced technologies.

Both synthetic (i.e., manufactured) diamond and natural

diamond have industrial uses. Synthetic industrial diamond,

however, is superior to its natural diamond counterpart because

it can be produced in unlimited quantities, and, in many cases,

its properties can be tailored for specific applications (Boucher,

1996). Consequently, manufactured diamond accounts for

more than 90% of the industrial diamond used in the United

States.

Legislation and Government Programs

In 1998, the National Defense Stockpile (NDS), operated by

the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), contained the

following categories of industrial diamond: industrial stone,

bort, and diamond dies. At yearend, the NDS had an inventory

of 3.1 million carats of industrial stone valued at $31 million;

62,300 carats of diamond bort valued at $331,000; and 25,500

pieces of diamond dies valued at $255,000 (Cook, 1999).

Congress has authorized the DOD to dispose of all NDS

diamond dies and portions of the stockpiled stone and bort. 

During 1998, more than 411,000 carats of stockpiled diamond

stone were sold for $23 million, one of the largest NDS

disposals conducted during the year (Tom Meeker, Defense

Logistics Agency, oral commun., 1999); no stockpiled diamond

bort or diamond dies were sold. The DOD plans to conduct

additional sales until all NDS diamond stocks are exhausted. 

Further information concerning NDS diamond 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 1998 survey, a few significant firms withheld

certain data that they deemed confidential. Thus, only

estimates of U.S. primary and secondary output are provided

below.

As one of the world’s leading producers of synthetic

industrial diamond, the United States accounted for an

estimated output of 140 million carats in 1998. Only two U.S.

companies produced synthetic industrial diamond during the

year—Du Pont Industrial Diamond Division, 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 1998, nine firms also manufactured polycrystalline

diamond (PCD) from synthetic diamond grit and powder. 

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

Superabrasives; Novatek Inc., Provo, UT; Phoenix Crystal, 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 (Norman Rohr, Warren

Diamond Powder Co., Inc., oral commun., 1998).

An estimated 10 million carats of used industrial diamond

were recycled in the United States during 1998. Most of this

material was recovered by recycling firms from used 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 their production

operations (Wilson Born, National Research Company, oral

commun., 1999).

The recovery and sale of industrial diamond was the

principal business of four U.S. companies in 1998: Industrial

 

1Cubic boron nitride and silicon nitride are the hardest rivals (Ravi, 1994, p.

337).

 

2Diamond was used as a tool (for engraving) before 300 B.C.
23.2 DIAMOND, INDUSTRIAL—1998

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

recover industrial diamond in smaller secondary operations.

Consumption

In 1998, as in preceding years, the United States continued to

be the world’s largest market for industrial diamond. On the

basis of economic indicators, such as production and trade data,

estimated U.S. consumption of industrial diamond rose to a

record high of at least 270 million carats during the year. This

peak in growth primarily reflects expanded output in domestic

industries where diamond is used. The following U.S. industry

sectors were the principal consumers of industrial diamond in

1998: construction, computer chip production, machinery

manufacturing, mining services (drilling, etc.), stone

cutting/polishing, and transportation systems (infrastructure

and vehicles3). Within these sectors, stone cutting and highway

building/repair together accounted for the largest demand. 

Research and high technology uses included polishing silicon

wafers and disks drives in the computer industry, heat sinks in

electronic circuits, lenses for laser radiation equipment, and

close-tolerance machining of ceramic parts for the aerospace

industry (Bailey and Bex, 1995).

Diamond tools have a myriad of industrial functions. 

Diamond drilling bits and reaming shells are used principally

for mineral, oil, and gas exploration. Additional applications

for 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 also is an

application. Cutting dimension stone and cutting/grooving

concrete in highway reconditioning are the major uses of

diamond saws; other applications include the cutting of

composites and the forming of refractory shapes for furnace

linings. Very fine diamond saws are used to slice brittle metals

and crystals into thin wafers for electronic and electric 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 the

sharpening and shaping of carbide machine tool tips, die

grinding, plate glass edging, and optical grinding.

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

multiple-point diamond tools, diamond saws, diamond wheels,

and diamond wire dies. Diamond bort is utilized 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. The 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

compacts (PDC) continues to increase for many of the

applications cited above, including some of those that employ

natural diamond. In particular, the use of PDS, PDC, and

matrix-set synthetic diamond grit for drilling bits and reaming

shells has increased in recent years. Moreover, 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. In combination with uses in the silicon chip and

computer industry, the manufacturing of PCD for PDS and

PDC now accounts for much of the diamond powder consumed

in the United States (Wilson Born, National Research

Company, oral commun., 1998).

Prices

Natural and synthetic industrial diamonds differ significantly

in price (Boucher, 1997). Natural industrial diamond, which

normally has a more limited range of values, varies in price

from approximately $0.30 per carat for bort-size material to

about $7 to $25 per carat for most stone.

Synthetic industrial diamond has a much greater range of

prices, which varies according to size, shape, crystallinity, and

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

diamond for grinding and polishing generally varies from

$0.30 per carat (as low as $0.10 per carat for low-quality

material) to $1 per carat; strong and blocky material for sawing

and drilling sells for $2 to $3 per carat. Prices are dropping in

some markets because of low-cost imports from Russia and

China (Fred Penna, Jr., Industrial Diamond Powders Co., oral

commun., 1999). Large synthetic crystals with excellent

structure for specific applications sell for several hundred

dollars per carat.

In 1998, the DOD appraised the average per-carat market

value of diamond bort and industrial stone in the NDS at $5.35

and $10, respectively. In certain cases, however, significantly

higher assessments of industrial diamond in the stockpile have

been made by those who bid on diamonds offered for sale

during the year by the DOD; for example, some bidders at the

NDS disposal sale in May 1998 paid an average of more than

$237 per carat for diamonds that they valued as gem-quality

stones (Tom Meeker, Defense Logistics Agency, oral commun.,

1999). Bids at a subsequent sale in early 1999 ranged from $1

to $122 per carat (Defense Logistics Agency, 1999).

Foreign Trade

In 1998, the United States continued to lead the world in

 

3One and a half carats of industrial diamond reportedly are consumed in the

production of every automobile made in the United States.
DIAMOND, INDUSTRIAL—1998 23.3

industrial diamond trade; imports came from 41 countries

(tables 1 and 2), and exports/reexports went to 40 countries 

(tables 3 and 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. Moreover, U.S. markets

for natural industrial diamond always have been dependent on

imports and secondary recovery operations because domestic

production of natural diamond was lacking.

During 1998, U.S. imports of diamond powder, dust, and grit

reached 221 million carats valued at $96 million. Imports of

industrial quality stones were 4.7 million carats valued at $18

million. China, Russia, and Ukraine are expected to become

more important sources of synthetic diamond for U.S. markets. 

Some prices of diamond from China were as low as $0.18 per

carat (Jean Etienne, Funik Ultrahard Materials Co., Ltd.,

written commun., 1998).

During 1998, the United States exported and reexported

about 4.6 million carats of industrial diamond stone valued at

$35 million (table 3). Additionally, the United States exported

and reexported 108 million carats of industrial diamond

powder, dust, and grit valued at $89 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

Despite declines in the economies of several industrialized

nations in 1998, total industrial diamond output worldwide

during the year was estimated to be well above 500 million

carats; various reports estimate that global output was at least

600 million carats valued between $600 and $800 million

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

1998; Glenn Han, IMEC Company, oral commun., 1999;

Norman Rohr, Warren Diamond Powder Co., Inc., oral

commun., 1999). World demand for industrial diamond in the

1990’s had been growing at annual rates of more than 10%

(Boucher, 1997). The decline of several important Asian

markets, however, dampened demand for some products during 

1997 and 1998 (Ellis, 1998; Union Minière, 1998).

More than 30 countries produced industrial diamond in 1998

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

Germany and the Republic of Korea produce synthetic diamond

(Norman Rohr, Warren Diamond Powder Co., Inc., 1999), but

specific data on their output could not be confirmed. China

may produce much more than the output shown in the table

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

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

commun., 1999).

Two-thirds of global industrial diamond output was focused

in just four countries: the United States, Ireland,4 Russia, and

South Africa (Lombardero, 1998). Furthermore, at least 70%

of world’s synthetic output in 1998 was manufactured by only

two companies: General Electric and De Beers Consolidated

Mines Limited (Boucher, 1997; Lombardero, 1998). The

dominance of synthetic diamond was even more pronounced,

accounting for more than 90% of global production and

consumption.

Outlook

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

market for industrial diamond well into the 21st century and

will remain a significant producer and exporter of industrial

diamond as well. Strength of the Nation’s demand for

industrial diamond will depend on the vitality of the domestic

industrial base that employs diamond 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

1999). 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 cascade 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

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 Federal Transportation Equity Act legislation of 19985 is

implemented to increase funding for improvements in the

Nation’s highway system. Demand for saw-grade diamond

alone is expected to increase by more than $1 billion 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., 1999).

Domestic high-tech industries also will drive U.S. demand

for industrial diamond. The most rapid rate of growth may be

exhibited in the electronics sector, where diamond tools are

used to slice high-purity silicon wafers into micro transistor

chips and to polish CD’s and computer disk drives.

Outside the United States, world demand for industrial

diamond will continue to increase, but probably at a slower rate

during the next few years as the industrialized economies in

Asia begin to recover from the recession of 1997-98. Constantdollar prices of synthetic diamond products, including chemical

vapor deposition diamond films, will decline as production

technologies become more cost effective and competition from

low-cost producers in China and Russia increases. 

Nevertheless, competing demand for diamond among certain

4Some reports estimate that Ireland rather than the United States may be the

world’s largest producer.

5The legislation (P.O. 105-178; enacted June 9, 1998) is titled, Transportation

Equity Act for the 21st Century, and will fund road building and repair through

2003.
23.4 DIAMOND, INDUSTRIAL—1998

consuming industries could induce short-term price increases

for some products (Wilson Born, National Research Company,

oral commun., 1998). Moreover, concentration of production

among a limited number of major industrial diamond

manufacturers could tend to limit price reductions.

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

(Wison 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.

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 conference, Toronto, October 22, 1996.

———1997, Diamonds: Canadian Minerals Yearbook chapter reprint, p. 26.6.

Cook, C.A., 1999, Inventory of stockpiled material L-1 1997, Diamonds: 

Canadian Minerals Yearbook chapter reprint, p. 26.6.: Defense Logistics 

 Agency, January, 3 p.

Defense Logistics Agency, 1999, Stockpile accepts diamond offer: Fort Belvoir,

VA, Defense Logistics Agency news release, June, 5 p.

Ellis, Roger, ed., 1998, De Beers’ industrial diamonds: Mining Journal Annual

Review Supplement, v. 330, no. 8481, May 22, p. 18.

Lombardero, M., and others, 1998, Synthetic minerals—product and market

review: Industrial Minerals, issue 371, August, p. 45-55.

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

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

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.

Union Minière, 1998, 1997 annual report: Brussels, Union Minière, p. 31.

Yoder, M.N., 1994, The vision of diamond as an engineered material, in Spear,

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

and technology: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, p. 3-17.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

U.S. Geological Survey Publications

Abrasives. Ch. in United States mineral resources, U.S.

Geological Survey Professional Paper 820, 1973.

Diamond (Industrial). Ch. in Mineral Commodity

Summaries, annual.6

Gemstones. Ch. in Minerals Yearbook, annual.6

Industrial diamond. Ch. in Minerals Yearbook, annual.6

Other

De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, 1998, Annual report: 

Kimberley, South Africa.

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.

 

6

 Prior to January 1996, published by the U.S. Bureau of Mines.
TABLE 1

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

(Thousand carats and thousand dollars)

Natural industrial diamond stones

(including glazers' and Miners' diamond,

engravers' diamond unset; natural and synthetic

HTS 7102.21.3000 and .4000) 2/ (HTS 7102.21.1010 and .1020) 2/

1997 1998 1997 1998

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

Belgium 238 1,320 175 978 308 3,700 63 427

China 12 15 30 38 -- -- 365 52

Congo (Kinshasa) 4/ 19 287 15 188 20 1,180 3 182

Ghana 252 1,910 252 1,540 130 682 41 416

India 46 47 23 55 (5/) 7 2 201

Ireland 326 503 685 2,130 120 18 35 209

Japan 6 136 1 38 -- -- -- -- 

South Africa 6 165 2 4 2 243 (5/) 744

Switzerland 2 20 (5/) 34 357 840 575 1,240

United Kingdom 139 549 445 1,090 225 6,190 200 4,330

Other 551 3,200 942 3,310 28 443 862 1,250

 Total 1,600 8,150 2,570 9,410 1,190 13,300 2,150 9,050

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2/ Source: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

3/ Customs value.

4/ Formerly Zaire.

5/ Less than 1/2 unit.

Source: Bureau of the Census.

 TABLE 2

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

 (Thousand carats and thousand dollars)

Synthetic Natural

(HTS 7105.10.0020; .0030 and .0050) 2/ (HTS 7105.10.0011 and .0015) 2/

1997 1998 1997 1998

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

Belgium 3,910 4,900 4,600 5,120 2,520 2,320 2,700 2,340

China 39,000 7,250 38,700 6,480 9,270 1,510 350 173

France 1,320 810 223 205 347 157 27 23

Germany 1,920 393 8 16 30 35 75 59

Ghana 269 203 95 65 296 197 192 198

Hong Kong 1,180 297 807 562 1,170 145 -- -- 

India 526 181 2,050 711 135 61 1,070 375

Ireland 108,000 63,200 100,000 57,300 2,450 1,400 1,770 865

Japan 5,620 2,790 5,760 3,080 12 13 5 15

Korea, Republic of 14,800 8,950 8,990 6,310 764 473 1,360 723

Russia 46,900 6,730 6,540 2,140 399 100 18 23

Switzerland 5,870 2,090 3,510 1,830 380 467 1,370 874

United Kingdom 2,810 2,590 4,540 1,790 766 391 1,190 538

Other 2,110 618 34,600 4,430 771 773 625 232

 Total 235,000 101,000 210,000 90,000 19,300 8,040 10,700 6,430

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2/ Source: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

3/ Customs value.

Source: Bureau of the Census.
TABLE 3

U.S. EXPORTS AND REEXPORTS OF INDUSTRIAL DIAMOND STONES, BY COUNTRY 1/

(Thousand carats and thousand dollars)

Industrial unworked diamonds

(HTS 7102.21.0000) 2/

1997 1998

Country Quantity Value 3/ Quantity Value 3/

Exports:

 Belgium 34 240 46 218

 Canada 218 649 187 484

 Germany 62 432 206 930

 Hong Kong 8 55 2 24

 Ireland 12 121 27 235

 Israel 3 41 4 54

 Italy 13 71 4 39

 Japan 84 833 179 1,810

 Korea, Republic of 5 43 32 319

 Netherlands 16 85 7 70

 Switzerland 14 131 3 30

 United Kingdom 17 155 109 176

 Other 76 590 43 380

 Total 561 3,450 849 4,760

Reexports:

 Belgium 1,800 15,000 3,010 23,000

 Canada 214 616 79 366

 Germany 21 223 17 140

 Hong Kong 85 691 56 559

 Ireland 8 79 10 85

 Israel 132 1,780 189 1,890

 Japan 645 6,520 291 2,810

 Korea, Republic of 93 788 67 675

 Netherlands 1 3 -- -- 

 Switzerland 9 88 7 69

 United Kingdom 17 185 27 282

 Other 7 67 6 74

 Total 3,030 26,100 3,760 30,000

 Grand total 3,590 29,500 4,610 34,700

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2/ Source: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

3/ Customs value.

Source: Bureau of the Census.
TABLE 4

U.S. EXPORTS AND REEXPORTS OF INDUSTRIAL DIAMOND POWDER, DUST AND GRIT, BY COUNTRY 1/

(Thousand carats and thousand dollars)

Synthetic Natural

(HTS 7105.10.0025) 2/ (HTS 7105.10.0010) 2/

1997 1998 1997 1998

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

Exports:

 Australia 679 1,290 469 952 10 25 6 13

 Austria 1,380 821 2,630 1,250 112 126 214 221

 Belgium 4,460 5,260 4,370 4,350 400 330 994 497

 Brazil 1,660 1,140 814 396 -- -- 18 93

 Canada 3,370 6,000 1,610 1,740 115 272 82 185

 China 1,590 1,190 1,580 1,700 -- -- 24 6

 France 126 78 185 109 11 28 22 41

 Germany 4,960 3,520 4,460 2,780 155 140 157 104

 Hong Kong 4,040 3,250 2,280 2,250 348 92 8 15

 India 9,490 3,790 5,800 1,930 28 30 413 308

 Ireland 26,600 29,800 33,500 38,000 124 262 55 100

 Israel 230 89 610 175 974 222 -- -- 

 Italy 1,540 688 1,900 902 108 70 113 76

 Japan 25,700 20,500 19,100 13,700 747 631 368 485

 Korea, Republic of 10,800 7,680 9,030 5,320 77 34 219 302

 Luxembourg 259 195 91 41 62 68 -- -- 

 Macao 1,660 406 -- -- 309 165 141 129

 Malaysia 849 497 356 154 2 4 47 22

 Mexico 277 222 682 539 194 138 43 46

 Singapore 6,550 3,190 1,930 801 97 65 189 91

 Switzerland 3,090 1,620 2,760 1,820 344 186 682 366

 Taiwan 6,460 3,910 2,020 2,270 11 3 16 9

 Thailand 524 325 359 294 117 80 128 95

 United Kingdom 2,650 725 1,850 598 1,360 699 1,160 1,020

 Other 1,250 1,310 768 501 98 177 223 122

 Total 120,000 97,500 99,100 82,600 5,810 3,850 5,320 4,340

Reexports:

 Australia -- -- -- -- 1 3 -- -- 

 Belgium 1,020 225 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

 Brazil 193 104 704 313 5 3 4 3

 Canada 544 1,190 426 797 10 34 23 31

 China -- -- 1,500 240 -- -- -- -- 

 Germany -- -- 17 13 -- -- -- -- 

 Hong Kong 86 33 44 12 -- -- 27 7

 India 12 21 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

 Ireland 72 105 387 278 16 32 -- -- 

 Israel 10 4 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

 Japan 128 60 55 20 -- -- 26 30

 Korea, Republic of 142 173 24 10 -- -- -- -- 

 Macao -- -- 53 67 -- -- -- -- 

 Malaysia 133 28 52 12 -- -- -- -- 

 Mexico 17 37 29 29 -- -- -- -- 

 Netherlands Antilles -- -- 27 34 -- -- -- -- 

 Singapore -- -- 23 10 -- -- -- -- 

 Switzerland 15 40 -- -- 15 46 -- -- 

 Thailand 8 10 2 6 10 23 2 4

 United Kingdom 167 48 77 18 11 8 -- -- 

 Total 2,550 2,080 3,420 1,860 68 149 83 74

 Grand total 123,000 99,500 103,000 84,500 5,880 4,000 5,410 4,420

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2/ Source: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

3/ Customs value.

Source: Bureau of the Census.
TABLE 5

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

(Thousand carats)

Country 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Gemstones: 3/

 Angola 270 2,600 2,250 1,110 2,400

 Australia 19,500 18,300 18,897 4/ 18,100 18,400

 Botswana 10,550 4/ 11,500 12,400 r/ 15,100 r/ 13,500

 Brazil 300 676 4/ 200 300 300

 Canada -- -- -- -- 278

 Central African Republic 401 400 350 400 330

 China 230 230 230 230 230

 Congo (Kinshasa) 5/ 4,000 4,000 3,600 3,300 r/ 2,000

 Cote d' Ivoire 80 53 202 207 207

 Ghana 118 4/ 126 142 664 r/ 640

 Guinea 306 274 165 165 r/ 165

 Liberia 40 60 60 60 60

 Namibia 1,312 4/ 1,382 4/ 1,400 r/ 1,420 r/ 1,600

 Russia 10,000 r/ 10,500 r/ 10,500 r/ 10,500 r/ 10,500

 Sierra Leone 155 113 162 4/ 64 r/ 50

 South Africa 5,050 5,070 4,280 4,380 4,100

 Venezuela 380 125 99 r/ 158 r/ 100

 Zimbabwe 104 114 300 321 r/ 40

 Other 99 r/ 119 r/ 165 r/ 121 r/ 126

 Total 52,900 r/ 55,700 r/ 55,400 r/ 56,600 r/ 55,000

Industrial: 

 Angola 30 300 250 124 364

 Australia 23,800 22,400 23,096 4/ 22,100 22,500

 Botswana 5,000 5,300 5,000 5,000 5,000

 Brazil 600 600 600 600 600

 Central African Republic 131 130 120 100 200

 China 850 900 900 900 900

 Congo (Kinshasa) 5/ 13,000 13,000 17,000 18,900 r/ 13,000

 Cote d' Ivoire 4 22 100 100 100

 Ghana 473 4/ 505 573 166 r/ 160

 Guinea 75 91 40 40 40

 Liberia 60 90 90 90 90

 Russia 10,000 r/ 10,500 r/ 10,500 r/ 10,500 r/ 10,500

 Sierra Leone 100 101 108 40 r/ 30

 South Africa 5,800 5,880 5,670 5,790 6,200

 Venezuela 203 66 73 r/ 90 r/ 150

 Zimbabwe 69 90 137 100 30

 Other 92 r/ 101 r/ 120 r/ 105 r/ 106

 Total 60,300 r/ 60,100 r/ 64,400 r/ 64,700 r/ 59,900

 Grand total 113,000 r/ 116,000 r/ 120,000 r/ 121,000 r/ 115,000

r/ Revised. 

1/ World totals and estimated data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2/ Table includes data available through May 27, 1999. 

3/ Includes near- and cheap-gem qualities.

4/ Reported figure.

5/ Formerly Zaire.
TABLE 6 

SYNTHETIC DIAMOND: ESTIMATED WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY 1/ 2/ 3/ 

(Thousand carats) 

Country 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Belarus 25,000 4/ 25,000 4/ 25,000 25,000 25,000

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

Czech Republic 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000

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

Greece 1,000 1,000 750 750 750

Ireland 65,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000

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

Poland 271 4/ 256 4/ 250 4/ 260 r/ 210

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

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

Slovakia 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000

South Africa 60,000 4/ 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000

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

Ukraine 8,000 4/ 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000

United States 104,000 115,000 114,000 125,000 140,000

 Total 434,000 440,000 439,000 451,000 463,000

r/ Revised. 

1/ World totals, U.S. data, and estimated data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2/ Table includes data available through May 27, 1999.

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.