Leviev’s 2009 Diamond Sales Estimated at $3 Billion

The past year was a challenging one for the global diamond industry, however Leviev, according to the report, took advantage of the downturn to increase his activity. One such area was to focus on the emerging Chinese market, with direct shipments of rough diamonds from his own mines to his manufacturing facilities in China.

If the sales estimate is accurate, Leviev’s annual revenues are nearing those generated by De Beers’ rough diamond sales in 2009 - estimated at $3.2 billion. The article does not provide a source for this figure or a method for calculating the sales estimate.

According to Tel Aviv court records, in early December Moscow Jewelry Factory was supposed to be sold in order to pay back loans to four Israeli banks taken by Leviev’s infrastructure company Africa Israel. With an estimated value of $200 million, 70 percent of the proceeds were to be handed to the banks. Leviev's Ruis Group later denied the report.

Moscow Jewelry Factory is part of the Miuz holding firm, which manages Leviev’s manufacturing and retailing in Russia and Eastern Europe. Miuz’s revenues are estimated by TheMarker at $150 million. The Ruis Group includes Miuz as well as the regional mining operations, while LLD manages the diamond operations in Israel and Africa.

In addition, the Israeli diamond mogul has a chain of high-end jewelry boutiques named Leviev.

The scope of LLD’s sales is unknown.