Diamonds are well-known for being the world鈥檚 most precious gemstones in the global jewelry market. Major diamond producing companies around the world have witnessed stable growth in their revenues, thanks to the demand for diamond jewelry, such as engagement rings, diamond necklaces, diamond earrings and diamond bracelets.
The global demand for diamond jewelry was worth over $80 billion in 2016, while the US is the largest diamond jewelry market in the world, representing nearly half of the global diamond sales. The thriving market has also stimulated diamond production. According to the latest data presented by diamond expert Paul Zimnisky, the world鈥檚 total mined diamond production is estimated to be 142.3 million carats or $15.6 billion worth in 2017, representing a 11.5% increase in carat volume produced over 2016 and an 9.9% increase in total value produced.
Grow Your Business Network: Connect with Top Diamond Companies in the USA
Here are the top 10 diamond producing companies in the world in 2017
10. Rockwell Diamonds
Rockwell Diamonds is a major diamond mining and development company based in South Africa, formerly headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Most of the company’s mining operations are in the southern part of Africa, one of the world’s richest areas of diamond production. The company gained a lot of media attention recently after a failed hostile takeover bid by a personal holdings group, thus becoming one of the world鈥檚 most famous diamond producing companies.
9. Anglo American plc
Having two headquarters, one located in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the other in London, UK, Anglo American is one of the world鈥檚 largest mining companies. It is well known around the world for producing large quantities of diamonds, platinum, copper, gold and other precious metals. Anglo American also owns a portion of De Beers and several other world leading diamond producing companies.
8. Gem Diamonds
Based in London, UK, Gem Diamonds is a leading global diamond producer with diamond mining operations in Lesotho and Botswana. Gem Diamonds鈥檚 portfolio includes finding one of the world鈥檚 largest diamonds weighing over 600 carats. It currently maintains mines and operates labs in a number of different countries, including Angola, Australia, Botswana, Indonesia, Lesotho, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
7. Petra Diamonds
Originally a diamond sources exploration company, Petra has now shifted its business to diamond production. The company currently owns shares of eight diamond mines, including five of the world’s largest and most productive mines. Petra is forecast to grow company-wide production of diamonds by over 40% to 5.3M carats by 2019, with growth primarily coming from underground expansion projects.
6. Lucara
Lucara Diamond Corp. is a new diamond producer. Its key asset is the Karowe Mine in Botswana, which ranks as the third largest diamond mine in the country by value produced. Recently, Lucara uncovered the largest diamond found in over a century. Weighing in at 1,111 carats raw, this gem-quality stone added nearly $150 million to the value of the company.
5. Dominion Diamond Corporation
Based in Toronto, Canada, Dominion Diamond Corporation was formerly known as Harry Winston Diamond Corporation. The Company operates the Ekati Diamond Mine, in which it owns a controlling interest, and also owns 40% of the Diavik Diamond Mine. It supplies rough diamonds to the global market through its sorting and selling operations in Canada, Belgium and India, and is Canada鈥檚 largest independent diamond producer.
4. Debswana Diamond Company, Ltd.
Debswana Diamond Company (Pty) Ltd is a unique partnership between the Government of the Republic of Botswana and De Beers Group of Companies. It now owns four of the world鈥檚 major diamonds mines, including Damtshaa Mine, Jwaneng Mine, Letlhakane Mine, and Orapa Mine. It鈥檚 annual diamond production is around 20 million carats.
3. Rio- Tinto Diamonds
Rio Tinto owns and operates the Argyle diamond mine in the remote East Kimberley region of Western Australia and the Diavik mine in Canada鈥檚 Northwest Territories. Argyle has been operating since 1983 and has produced more than 800 million carats of rough diamonds. It is one of the world’s largest suppliers of diamonds and the world’s largest supplier of natural coloured diamonds.
2. ALROSA
ALROSA is the world鈥檚 leading diamond mining company, accounting for more than 29% of global diamond production in terms of carats. In 2016, ALROSA Group鈥檚 enterprises produced 37.4 million carats of rough diamonds. The company is 58% owned by Russian national and regional governments. Its portfolio includes 11 mines and 5 alluvial operations, producing 27% of global diamond production by volume and 33% by value.
1. De Beers
De Beers is 85% owned by Anglo American and 15% owned by the Government of the Republic of Botswana. De Beers’ two primary mines in Botswana, Jwaneng and Orapa represent 92% of the nation’s diamond output by value. Jwaneng is arguably the most valuable diamond mine in the world. De Beers currently has approximately 35 million carats of production capacity and is estimated to produce 32 million carats or 91% of capacity in 2017.
