This list reveals the top 10 gems importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world gems imports totaled US$9.1 billion excluding diamonds or unworked or synthetic precious stones.
African Importers
Africa imported $12.8 million worth of gems led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $8.6 million
2. Zambia: $1.5 million
3. Mauritius: $1.2 million
4. Morocco: $842,000
5. Tunisia: $139,000
6. Kenya: $97,000
7. Mali: $89,000
8. Namibia: $78,000
9. Libya: $67,000
10. Egypt: $51,000
Asian Importers
Asia imported $4.4 billion worth of gems led by the following countries:
1. India: $1.8 billion
2. Hong Kong: $1.3 billion
3. Thailand: $546.4 million
4. China: $349.5 million
5. Singapore: $207.3 million
6. Japan: $142.2 million
7. Taiwan: $33.5 million
8. Armenia: $8.1 million
9. Sri Lanka: $6 million
10. Malaysia: $5 million
European Union (EU) Importers
European Union imported $1.1 billion worth of gems led by the following EU members:
1. France: $367.1 million
2. Italy: $247.3 million
3. United Kingdom: $220.9 million
4. Germany: $185.4 million
5. Belgium: $37.4 million
6. Spain: $11.1 million
7. Austria: $10.9 million
8. Sweden: $4.6 million
9. Poland: $2.9 million
10. Netherlands: $2.4 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $15.6 million worth of gems led by the following countries:
1. Brazil: $5.6 million
2. Costa Rica: $3.6 million
3. Aruba: $2.1 million
4. Colombia: $449,000
5. British Virgin Islands: $446,000
6. Honduras: $433,000
7. Bahamas: $417,000
8. Panama: $373,000
9. Cayman Islands: $351,000
10. Jamaica: $341,000
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $379.4 million worth of gems led by the following countries:
1. United Arab Emirates: $318.3 million
2. Israel: $33.2 million
3. Lebanon: $21.2 million
4. Bahrain: $5.3 million
5. Qatar: $817,000
6. Iraq: $282,000
7. Saudi Arabia: $153,000
8. Kuwait: $78,000
9. Iran: $61,000
10. Jordan: $37,000
North American Importers
North America imported $2.2 billion worth of gems led by the following countries:
1. United States: $2.1 billion
2. Canada: $22.5 million
3. Mexico: $6.9 million
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $53.2 million worth of gems led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $42.9 million
2. New Zealand: $10.2 million
3. New Caledonia: $40,000
4. French Polynesia: $8,000
5. Papua New Guinea: $8,000
6. Fiji: $1,000
To see the 25 fastest-growing gems importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage decline for globally imported gems was -6.6%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Gems Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Gem Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
