Antwerp Trade Falls 23% in 2025, but Shows Signs of Recovery
January 13, 26
(IDEX Online) - The value of Antwerp's trade in rough and polished diamonds fell by 22.8 per cent last year, down from $24.5bn to $19.1bn, according to the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).
That's less than half the post-Covid 2022 peak of $41bn.
But the AWDC, representing almost 1,500 diamond companies, says that in recent months the decline has slowed, and that in December there was actually some growth.
"The average decline from July to December 2025 was -8.5% (compared to -22.8% for the full year versus 2024), it said in a press briefing," it said.
"For December 2025, an increase is even observed: +3% compared to December 2024."
AWDC said Antwerp had a 34 per cent share of global rough diamond imports and exports ($6.5bn) during 2025 and a 65.6 per cent share of all polished diamond imports and exports ($12.5bn).
It noted that Russia continues to mine and sell roughly the same volume of diamonds despite G7 sanctions (37m carats in 2023 and 2024). Before the sanctions Russian diamonds accounted for around 30 per cent of all Antwerp's rough imports.
Most sales now are to Dubai and India, where no sanctions apply, it said. Per-carat prices for Russian goods have increased by almost a quarter since 2021.
Pic shows Antwerp's diamond-designed port building.