Diamond imports for local consumption in China reached a record high of $699 million in 2009, increasing 30.7% compared to 2008, making mainland China the world’s second-largest diamond consumption market after the United States.
China’s diamond imports, diamond exports and diamond trade via the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) exceeded a record high of US$1.5 billion in 2009, marking an increase of 16.4% from the previous year.
According to the Diamond Administration of China, the diamond transit trade and diamond trade between members in the Shanghai Diamond Exchange became more active in 2009. Diamond transit trade rose 9.5% to $327 million and trades between members in SDE rose 21.7% to $122 million in 2009.
13 new members joined SDE in 2009, bringing the total number of members in the SDE to 243.
