DIAMOND, INDUSTRIAL—1999 23.1

DIAMOND, INDUSTRIAL

By Donald W. Olson

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

was 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. 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). 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 color, clarity, size, or shape 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

any rival abrasive materials (Boucher, 1997). Diamond also

has chemical, electrical, optical, and thermal characteristics

that make it the best material available to industry for wearand 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 diamond

counterpart because it can be produced in large quantities. In

many cases, its properties can be tailored for 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 1999 annual plan

allowed for the sale of all stockpiled bort and diamond dies and

a portion of the stockpiled diamond stones. During 1999, NDS

sold 599,136 carats of diamond stone (valued at $20.7 million);

62,557 carats of bort (valued at $335,545); and 25,446 diamond

dies (valued at $148,445). At yearend 1999, NDS reported a

remaining inventory of 2.497 million carats of industrial

diamond stone (valued at $24.97 million) (Tom Meeker,

Defense Logistics Agency, oral commun., 2000). DOD plans

to conduct additional future sales until all NDS diamond stone

stocks are exhausted.

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 1999 survey, a few significant firms withheld

certain data that they deemed confidential. Only estimates of

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

As one of the world’s leading producers of synthetic

industrial diamond, the United States accounted for an

estimated output of 208 million carats in 1999. Only two U.S.

companies produced synthetic industrial diamond during the

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

Superabrasives, Worthington, OH. Mypodiamond, Inc.

purchased the DuPont plant in May 1999. 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 1999, 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.

About 10.1 million carats of used industrial diamond were

recycled in the United States in 1999. 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 their production operations (Wilson Born,

National Research Company, oral commun., 2000).

The recovery and sale of industrial diamond was the

principal business of four U.S. companies in 1999: 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

recover industrial diamond in smaller secondary operations.

Consumption

In 1999, the United States continued to be the world’s largest

industrial diamond market. On the basis of economic

indicators, such as production and trade data, estimated U.S.

consumption of industrial diamond reached a record high of

more than 330 million carats during the year. This growth in

consumption 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
23.2 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—1999

1999: computer chip production, 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 accounted for the largest demand. One

and a half carats of industrial diamond reportedly are consumed

in the production of every automobile made in the United

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

industry, heat sinks in electronic circuits, lenses for laser

radiation equipment, and polishing silicon wafers and disks

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

Diamond tools have a myriad of industrial functions. 

Diamond drilling bits and reaming shells are used principally

for gas, mineral, and oil exploration. Other diamond bits and

reaming shells applications 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 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 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 of 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

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

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). Natural industrial diamond normally

has a more limited range of values. Its price varies from about

$0.30 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

$0.09 to $1.00 per carat. Strong and blocky material for

sawing and drilling sells for $1.50 to $4.00 per carat. Large,

synthetic crystals with excellent structure for specific

applications sell for several hundred dollars a carat.

In May 1999, DOD sold all stocks of bort that remained in

the NDS. The awarded bids ranged from $4.71 to $12.36 per

carat, and the average of awarded bids was $5.36 per carat. 

Also in 1999, NDS sold all the stocks of diamond dies (both

mounted and unmounted) in two sales. The average awarded

bid for the diamond die sales was $5.83 per die. The NDS

diamond stone sales held in 1999 had awarded bids that ranged

from $1.03 to $121.57 per carat, with the average awarded bid

being $34.49 per carat (Tom Meeker, Defense Logistics

Agency, oral commun., 2000).

Foreign Trade

The United States continued to lead the world in industrial

diamond trade during 1999; imports came from 49 countries

(tables 1 and 2), and exports/reexports went to 53 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. 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 1999, U.S. imports of industrial quality diamond

stones (natural and synthetic) were 3.1 million carats valued at

$14.3 million (table 1). Imports of diamond powder, dust, and

grit (natural and synthetic) reached 208 million carats valued at

$92.3 million (table 2).

During 1999, the United States exported and reexported

about 4 million carats of industrial diamond stone valued at

$36.7 million (table 3). Additionally, the United States

exported and reexported 101 million carats of industrial

diamond powder, dust, and grit valued at $68.1 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.
DIAMOND, INDUSTRIAL—1999 23.3

World Review

Total 1999 industrial diamond output worldwide during the

year was estimated to be well above 570 million carats; various

reports estimate that global output was at least 600 million

carats valued between $600 and $900 million (Wilson Born,

National Research Company, oral commun., 2000; 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).

More than 30 countries produced industrial diamond in 1999

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

Germany and the Republic of Korea produce synthetic

diamond, 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., 2000; Norman Rohr, Warren Diamond Powder

Co., Inc., oral commun., 1999). Nearly 65% of the global

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 80% of global

production and consumption.

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. 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 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 sawgrade 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.,

2000).

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 enduse 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 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 conference, Toronto, October 22, 1996.

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

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.

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.1

Gemstones. Ch. in Minerals Yearbook, annual.1

Diamond, industrial. Ch. in Minerals Yearbook, annual.1

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.

 

1

 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/

1998 1999 1998 1999

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

Belgium 175 978 144 2,980 63 427 53 846

China 30 38 2 14 365 52 1 13

Congo (Kinshasa) 15 188 25 30 3 182 -- -- 

Ghana 252 1,540 159 672 41 416 49 772

India 23 55 4 27 2 201 -- -- 

Ireland 685 2,130 203 594 35 209 1 23

Japan 1 38 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

South Africa 2 4 36 51 (4/) 744 (4/) 10

Switzerland (4/) 34 3 48 575 1,240 676 1,170

United Kingdom 445 1,090 398 517 200 4,330 215 4,900

Other 942 3,310 835 1,300 862 1,250 328 343

 Total 2,570 9,410 1,810 6,230 2,150 9,050 1,320 8,090

-- Zero.

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

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

3/ Customs value.

4/ 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 Natural

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

1998 1999 1998 1999

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

Belgium 4,600 5,120 2,130 1,580 2,700 2,340 4,500 3,730

China 38,700 6,480 33,500 6,040 350 173 227 173

France 223 205 -- -- 27 23 -- -- 

Germany 8 16 75 58 75 59 78 81

Ghana 95 65 87 53 192 198 257 194

Hong Kong 807 562 217 121 -- -- -- -- 

India 2,050 711 1,820 519 1,070 375 1,350 393

Ireland 100,000 57,300 97,000 56,400 1,770 865 2,250 1,670

Japan 5,760 3,080 4,420 2,800 5 15 401 588

Korea, Republic of 8,990 6,310 9,860 6,460 1,360 723 11 6

Russia 6,540 2,140 5,220 1,180 18 23 23 4

Switzerland 3,510 1,830 3,570 3,020 1,370 874 1,520 1,090

United Kingdom 4,540 1,790 2,070 950 1,190 538 1,440 412

Other 34,600 4,430 34,300 4,450 625 232 2,230 293

 Total 210,000 90,000 194,000 83,700 10,700 6,430 14,300 8,630

-- Zero.

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

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

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

(HTS 7102.21.0000) 2/

1998 1999

Country Quantity Value 3/ Quantity Value 3/

Exports:

 Belgium 46 218 17 141

 Canada 187 484 117 410

 Germany 206 930 79 473

 Hong Kong 2 24 5 41

 Ireland 27 235 7 47

 Israel 4 54 -- -- 

 Italy 4 39 -- -- 

 Japan 179 1,810 351 3,480

 Korea, Republic of 32 319 80 713

 Netherlands 7 70 1 12

 Switzerland 3 30 12 118

 United Kingdom 109 176 16 157

 Other 43 380 61 491

 Total 849 4,760 746 6,080

Reexports:

 Belgium 3,010 23,000 2,700 25,400

 Canada 79 366 64 278

 Germany 17 140 15 150

 Hong Kong 56 559 12 123

 Ireland 10 85 10 99

 Israel 189 1,890 129 1,630

 Japan 291 2,810 110 1,150

 Korea, Republic of 67 675 92 833

 Netherlands -- -- 4 43

 Switzerland 7 69 1 7

 United Kingdom 27 282 27 257

 Other 6 74 57 580

 Total 3,760 30,000 3,220 30,600

 Grand total 4,610 34,700 3,970 36,700

-- Zero.

1/ Data are rounded to no more than 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/

1998 1999 1998 1999

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

Exports:

 Australia 469 952 50 53 6 13 -- -- 

 Austria 2,630 1,250 2,670 1,480 214 221 312 138

 Belgium 4,370 4,350 1,430 827 994 497 237 157

 Brazil 814 396 1,890 1,010 18 93 -- -- 

 Canada 1,610 1,740 1,370 1,420 82 185 89 180

 China 1,580 1,700 185 59 24 6 183 31

 France 185 109 153 57 22 41 51 114

 Germany 4,460 2,780 4,790 2,530 157 104 199 104

 Hong Kong 2,280 2,250 482 395 8 15 147 52

 India 5,800 1,930 3,230 1,180 413 308 104 56

 Ireland 33,500 38,000 27,400 25,400 55 100 258 69

 Israel 610 175 481 192 -- -- 142 29

 Italy 1,900 902 1,860 842 113 76 188 108

 Japan 19,100 13,700 19,100 10,800 368 485 414 590

 Korea, Republic of 9,030 5,320 12,100 5,920 219 302 969 445

 Luxembourg 91 41 35 13 -- -- 119 79

 Macao -- -- 30 17 141 129 22 7

 Malaysia 356 154 447 173 47 22 -- -- 

 Mexico 682 539 1,020 840 43 46 66 73

 Singapore 1,930 801 1,210 287 189 91 3 10

 Switzerland 2,760 1,820 1,920 1,230 682 366 787 1,190

 Taiwan 2,020 2,270 5,840 2,930 16 9 355 95

 Thailand 359 294 368 210 128 95 24 23

 United Kingdom 1,850 598 2,250 1,460 1,160 1,020 2,110 1,500

 Other 768 501 1,180 693 223 122 137 125

 Total 99,100 82,600 91,500 60,000 5,320 4,340 6,920 5,180

Reexports:

 Belgium -- -- 189 255 -- -- 2 7

 Brazil 704 313 -- -- 4 3 -- -- 

 Canada 426 797 361 755 23 31 50 101

 China 1,500 240 23 29 -- -- -- -- 

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

 Hong Kong 44 12 337 347 27 7 -- -- 

 India -- -- -- -- -- -- 1,350 1,190

 Ireland 387 278 2 9 -- -- -- -- 

 Japan 55 20 212 114 26 30 -- -- 

 Korea, Republic of 24 10 25 18 -- -- -- -- 

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

 Malaysia 52 12 121 27 -- -- -- -- 

 Mexico 29 29 23 47 -- -- 1 5

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

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

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

 Thailand 2 6 16 9 2 4 4 13

 United Kingdom 77 18 88 24 -- -- 9 11

 Total 3,420 1,860 1,400 1,640 83 74 1,410 1,320

 Grand total 103,000 84,500 92,900 61,600 5,410 4,420 8,330 6,500

-- Zero.

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

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

3/ Customs value.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
TABLE 5

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

(Thousand carats)

Country 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Gemstones: 3/

 Angola 2,600 2,250 1,110 2,400 1,080

 Australia 18,300 18,897 4/ 18,100 18,400 13,403 4/

 Botswana 11,500 12,400 15,100 14,800 r/ 15,000

 Brazil 676 4/ 200 300 300 300

 Canada -- -- -- 300 r/ 2,000 p/

 Central African Republic 400 350 400 330 400

 China 230 230 230 230 230

 Congo (Kinshasa) 4,000 3,600 3,000 r/ 3,300 r/ 3,500

 Cote d' Ivoire 53 202 207 210 r/ 210

 Ghana 126 142 664 649 r/ 649

 Guinea 274 165 165 300 r/ 300

 Liberia 60 60 80 r/ 150 r/ 600

 Namibia 1,382 4/ 1,402 r/ 4/ 1,345 r/ 1,394 r/ 1,995

 Russia 10,500 10,500 10,500 11,500 r/ 11,500

 Sierra Leone 113 162 4/ 300 r/ 200 r/ 225

 South Africa 5,070 4,400 r/ 4,500 r/ 4,300 r/ 4,000

 Venezuela 125 99 158 100 100

 Zimbabwe 114 300 321 10 r/ --

 Other 119 165 123 r/ 106 r/ 107

 Total 55,700 55,500 r/ 56,600 58,900 r/ 55,600

Industrial: 

 Angola 300 250 124 364 120

 Australia 22,400 23,096 4/ 22,100 22,500 16,381 4/

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

 Brazil 600 600 600 600 600

 Central African Republic 130 120 100 200 150

 China 900 900 900 900 920

 Congo (Kinshasa) 13,000 17,000 17,600 r/ 18,900 r/ 14,500

 Cote d' Ivoire 22 100 100 100 100

 Ghana 505 573 166 160 160

 Guinea 91 40 40 100 r/ 100

 Liberia 90 90 120 r/ 150 r/ 400

 Namibia -- -- 71 73 105

 Russia 10,500 10,500 10,500 11,500 r/ 11,500

 Sierra Leone 101 108 100 r/ 50 r/ 75

 South Africa 5,880 5,550 r/ 5,540 r/ 6,460 r/ 6,000

 Venezuela 66 73 90 150 150

 Zimbabwe 90 137 100 19 r/ --

 Other 101 120 105 97 r/ 68

 Total 60,100 64,300 r/ 63,400 r/ 67,300 r/ 56,300

 Grand total 116,000 120,000 120,000 r/ 126,000 r/ 112,000

p/ Preliminary. 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 26, 2000. 

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 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

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

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

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

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

Greece 1,000 750 750 750 750

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

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

Poland 256 4/ 250 4/ 260 210 200

Romania 5,000 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 5,000 3,000

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

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

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

United States 115,000 114,000 125,000 140,000 208,000

 Total 440,000 439,000 451,000 463,000 467,000

-- 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 26, 2000.

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.