Synthetic diamond imports to the U.S. 2010-2021

In 2021, 257 million carats of synthetic diamonds, also known as lab diamonds, were imported to the United States for consumption.

Synthetic diamonds in the United States

In 2021, there were 257 million carats of synthetic diamonds imported to the United States. Exports of synthetic industrial diamonds from the United States have increased since 2009 from 65.5 million carats to 88.1 million carats in 2010. In 2020 exports amounted to 88.1 million carats. Production in the U.S. has mostly remained at a similar volume during the past ten years. In 2007, the U.S. synthetic diamond production volume amounted to 130 million carats through primary production, and 17.6 million carats through secondary production. In 2020, primary production and secondary production coincidentally amounted to the exact same volumes.

Synthetic diamond production

Synthetic diamonds are artificially produced, often in laboratories, which is why they are also known as lab diamonds. Two of the most common production methods are through high-pressures and high-temperatures as well as through the formation of crystals through chemical vapor deposition, generating the names HPHT diamond and CVD diamond, respectively. Worldwide synthetic industrial diamond production amounted to some 15.4 billion carats in 2021, a slight decrease from the 17.4 billion carats in 2013. Synthetic industrial diamonds are often used as abrasives, as part of cutting and polishing tools. New applications for these materials have also been developed, for example, as high-power switches at power stations and as light-emitting diodes. It can also be used as detectors for ultraviolet light and high-energy particles, essential in certain research facilities.