Polished gemstone diamonds exports from South Africa: data and top buyer countries
South Africa exported $2.68 billion of polished gemstone diamonds in 2024 (5 tonnes). It ranks 6th of 117 countries for exports of this product. That is 24% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 18% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2021, at $5.06 billion.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.68B | 5 t |
| 2023 | $3.55B | 1 t |
| 2022 | $4.26B | 1 t |
| 2021 | $5.06B | 4 t |
| 2020 | $3.53B | 5 t |
| 2019 | $1.39B | 3 t |
| 2018 | $1.40B | 3 t |
| 2017 | $827.9M | 1 t |
Where South Africa exports polished gemstone diamonds to
One buyer market dominates: China accounted for 54% of the value.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.45B | 54% |
| United Arab Emirates | $599.4M | 22% |
| United States | $275.8M | 10% |
| Hong Kong | $92.1M | 3.4% |
| France | $61.0M | 2.3% |
| Switzerland | $50.8M | 1.9% |
| Belgium | $48.1M | 1.8% |
| Israel | $24.0M | 0.9% |
| United Kingdom | $18.8M | 0.7% |
| Thailand | $14.8M | 0.6% |
Polished gemstone diamonds imports to South Africa
Imports of polished gemstone diamonds by South Africa reached $33.0 million in 2024 (0 tonnes). The largest suppliers were India (50%), United States (14%), Switzerland (9%).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $16.4M | 50% |
| United States | $4.6M | 14% |
| Switzerland | $3.1M | 9.3% |
| Namibia | $2.9M | 8.9% |
| Israel | $1.6M | 4.8% |
| Botswana | $1.3M | 3.8% |
| Hong Kong | $1.1M | 3.3% |
| Belgium | $853K | 2.6% |
| Mauritius | $508K | 1.5% |
| United Kingdom | $364K | 1.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa polished gemstone diamonds exports (HS 7102.39): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 7102.39: Diamonds: non-industrial, (other than unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted), but not mounted or set.
Common questions
What is the value of polished gemstone diamonds exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported polished gemstone diamonds worth $2.68 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 5 tonnes. That ranks it 6th of 117 countries worldwide, with 6% of world exports. The value was down 24% on 2023.
Which countries buy polished gemstone diamonds from South Africa?
China was the largest buyer with 54% of the value ($1.45 billion), followed by the United Arab Emirates (22%) and the United States (10%). The top three together account for 87%, out of 38 buyer countries in total. Thailand grew fastest among the top ten, up 169% on the year.
How have exports of polished gemstone diamonds from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $827.9 million in 2017 to $2.68 billion in 2024, an increase of 224%. The peak was 2021 at $5.06 billion. Over 8 years the average was $2.84 billion a year.
Does South Africa also import polished gemstone diamonds?
Yes. South Africa imported $33.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from India, the United States and Switzerland. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $2.65 billion a year.
What is the HS code for polished gemstone diamonds?
The HS code for polished gemstone diamonds is subheading 7102.39. It sits in HS chapter 71 (natural, cultured pearls; precious, semi-precious stones; precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7102 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For South Africa, EximDataX reads the shipment records of the countries that trade with it and shows the companies on both sides. We can walk you through your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
World polished gemstone diamonds trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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