DD
According to the Russian Customs Committee, for the year 2005, a total of 23 million carats were exported from Russia worlwide, for a value of $1.66 billion; the average carat value was $72.08.
The Antwerp market in Belgium led the export destinations with 10.3 million carats, 45% of the Russian export market, with an average carat value of $61.30.
Trailing Antwerp in volume, but of with 24% higher carat value, were Russian exports to the UK (De Beers’ Diamond Trading Company). A total of 8.8 million carats was shipped, for $669 million; average carat value, $75.90. Israel ranked third as an export destination for Russian rough. In 2005, according to the customs data, it received 2.4 million carats for $233 million; average carat value was the highest of all export destinations, $97.08.
ALROSA (a company) is the largest Russian exporter of Diamonds.
Alrosa gives the following explanation, confirming the shift of Russian rough exports away from De Beers:
“The fundamental direction of export of rough is Antwerp. The difference in the price of the exported goods to Britain, Antwerp and Israel is connected first of all to the fact that to Antwerp goods for the various companies specializing in a wide assortment of rough is delivered, and the biggest share is taken by the Indian firms. To Israel, only a small share of Indian-type goods is delivered. Besides, Israeli firms actively participate in the purchase of rough diamonds at international auctions where the average price for orders exceeds the general export price of deliveries of rough diamonds from the Russian Federation.”
Alrosa also said that the legal channel allowing Russian diamond cutters to export 15% of the rough they receive in a year, when the stones are too small to cut profitably, is little used. The volume of rough exports from this source, Alrosa said, is “insignificant”.
Ararat Evoyan, executive director of the Russian Association of Diamond Manufacturers, played down the significance of the carat value figure. “It doesn't show anything. These [destination countries] are the staging posts through which enterprises gets access to US, Japan and other markets.”
This data source date: June 30, 2006.
