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Press Release: Canada is the third-largest diamond producer in the world and one of the most important suppliers of rough diamonds to Antwerp. Last week, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), spearheaded by governor Cathy Berx, traveled to Montreal, Toronto and Yellowknife. The meetings with mining company Stornoway Diamond Corp. provided strong indications the company is considering the commercialization of its entire production from the Renard mine in Quebec through Antwerp. Stornoway is the first producer to exploit a mining area in the Canadian province of Quebec. The Renard mine is expected to yield 1.6 million carats of diamonds annually, with a value of $304 million and production estimated to hit the market as of the second half of 2017. If the Renard production is marketed in Antwerp, the share of rough diamonds from Canada on the Antwerp market could increase by 64 percent. As trade center and diamond producer, Antwerp and Canada have always maintained a close relationship because of the quality demands that both implement with regard to transparency, ethical values and observance of national and international standards. In recent years, Canada has undergone significant changes with regard to diamond mining. Ari Epstein, the CEO of the AWDC, said, “A number of legislative changes have ensured that the regional and local authorities, such as the Northwest Territories, have obtained wider competencies as concerns the mining industry. This mission was important for Antwerp as a diamond center because of these new political arrangements. The new political leaders confirmed and reinforced the strong current relationship.” Berx said, “Throughout our conversations with the Canadians, it was very striking; all of them praised Antwerp as a reliable and highly transparent trade partner. We clearly share the same values, such as transparency, the importance of correct controls and corporate social responsibility. These shared values can only further strengthen our good relationships. We can conclude this was a very successful mission.” High-quality Canadian production doubled between 2012 and 2014, increasing from 1.5 million carats to 3.6 million carats of diamonds, representing a value increase from $2.5 billion to $3.8 billion. While Canada already is already one of the largest diamond-mining countries in the world, trailing only Botswana and Russia, the country still has tremendous untapped potential. For instance, Stornoway’s Renard project is only the first diamond project in the Province of Quebec. Currently, Canada’s diamond mining is mainly concentrated in the Northwest Territories, with the Ekati mine (Dominion Diamond) as the largest, followed by Diavik (Rio Tinto and Dominion), Gacho Kué (De Beers and Mountain Province Diamonds) and Snap Lake Mine (De Beers). The rough production of Ekati and Diavik are entirely commercialized on the Antwerp market. The Renard production will be added to them starting in 2017. Diamonds occupy a significant position in the trade balance between Canada and Belgium with 26.4 percent (by value) being diamonds. Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) is an industry-established foundation, whose mission is to serve and support the diamond business in Antwerp, the world's most important diamond trade hub. AWDC is the coordinating body and the official representative of the Antwerp diamond sector, and as such is recognized internationally as the host, spokesperson and intermediary for the Belgian diamond community. In this capacity, AWDC liaises on behalf of the Belgian diamond sector with governments and actively promotes support for the diamond sector at home and abroad. Eight-four percent of all rough diamonds and 50 percent of all polished diamonds pass through Antwerp. Diamonds represent 5 percent of the total Belgian exports and 15 percent of all Belgian exports outside the E.U., making diamonds the most important export product outside the E.U. Rapaport News is not responsible for, and does not endorse, the content of any third-party press release. This is not a Rapaport Press Release. It has been provided as additional information for our clients.
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