Ever wonder which countries export the most pearls? See the list, which also shows each exporter's percentage of global pearls exports within parenthesis. In 2017, world pearls exports were US$4.5 billion.
African Exporters
Africa exported $33,000 worth of pearls led by the following countries:
1. French South/Antarctic Territories: $17,000
2. South Africa: $11,000
3. Botswana: $2,000
4. Ethiopia: $2,000
5. Côte d'Ivoire: $1,000
Asian Exporters
Asia exported $3.8 billion worth of pearls led by the following countries:
1. Hong Kong: $3.4 billion
2. Japan: $291.4 million
3. China: $47.8 million
4. Indonesia: $46.3 million
5. Thailand: $36.2 million
6. Philippines: $17.3 million
7. Myanmar (Burma): $10.8 million
8. India: $3.6 million
9. Vietnam: $3.3 million
10. Singapore: $1.1 million
European Union (EU) Exporters
EU exported $37.2 million worth of pearls led by the following EU members:
1. United Kingdom: $19.6 million
2. Germany: $5.3 million
3. Italy: $5.3 million
4. France: $4.1 million
5. Belgium: $1.8 million
6. Spain: $544,000
7. Malta: $260,000
8. Austria: $193,000
9. Netherlands: $31,000
10. Sweden: $26,000
Latin American and Caribbean Exporters
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean exported $454,000 worth of pearls led by the following countries:
1. Bahamas: $407,000
2. Belize: $18,000
3. Trinidad/Tobago: $10,000
4. Turks/Caicos Islands: $8,000
5. Bolivia: $6,000
6. Dominican Republic: $4,000
7. Ecuador: $1,000
Middle Eastern Exporters
Middle East exported $432.9 million worth of pearls led by the following countries:
1. United Arab Emirates: $431.7 million
2. Bahrain: $495,000
3. Israel: $442,000
4. Qatar: $113,000
5. Iraq: $80,000
6. Lebanon: $29,000
7. Jordan: $2,000
North American Exporters
North America exported $45.4 million worth of pearls led by the following countries:
1. United States: $44 million
2. Canada: $1.4 million
3. Mexico: $7,000
Oceanian Exporters
Oceania exported $166.4 million worth of pearls led by the following countries:
1. French Polynesia: $116.6 million
2. Australia: $49.4 million
3. New Zealand: $173,000
4. Fiji: $75,000
5. Cook Islands: $67,000
The accompanying list identifies exporters with the fastest-growing international sales of pearls from 2013 to 2017. Overall, the 5-year percentage gain for this exported product category was 85.1%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Pearls Exporters 2017
Fastest-Growing Pearls Export Countries
