U.S. Exports And Reexports Of Gemstones

This table presents detailed data on the quantities and values of gemstones exported and reexported by the United States, measured in thousand carats and thousand dollars. The information covers a range of gemstone categories including diamonds, pearls, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and various other precious and semiprecious stones in different forms such as cut, unset, rough, and synthetic. Tracking these figures is crucial for understanding the economic impact of the gemstone trade on the U.S. economy, as well as for monitoring industry trends, trade balances, and supply chain dynamics. The data also supports policymakers and businesses in making informed decisions related to trade regulations, market development, and resource management.

Analysis of the 2021 data reveals several notable trends compared to 2020. Total exports increased significantly in quantity from 230 million carats to 308 million carats, though the total export value declined from $1.33 billion to $977 million. This divergence suggests a shift toward exporting larger volumes of lower-value gemstones or changes in market prices. For example, cut but unset diamonds saw a sharp drop in export value from $1.05 billion to $698 million despite nearly doubling in quantity from 1.18 million to 2.27 million carats. In contrast, synthetic gemstones exported as cut but unset and worked not for jewelry rose in value from $84.7 million to $133 million, indicating growing demand. Reexports also showed strong growth in value, rising from $11.7 billion to $16.7 billion, driven largely by cut but unset diamonds increasing from $10.1 billion to $14.4 billion and emeralds, rubies, and sapphires from $862 million to $1.38 billion. The grand total of exports and reexports climbed from $13 billion to $17.7 billion, highlighting the U.S. role as a major hub in the global gemstone trade.