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Israel’s Diamond Exports Lead Despite No Domestic Mines
Israel remained one of the world’s leading exporters of polished diamonds, even though the country has no diamond mines and does not extract rough stones domestically.
Industry officials and trade data have consistently shown that Israel’s role in the global diamond market is built on processing, certification and high-value trading rather than mining.
Diamonds exported from Israel originate as rough stones imported from major producing countries in Africa and other regions. These stones are then cut, polished, graded and traded through Israel’s long-established diamond sector, centered around the Israel Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan.
After processing, the diamonds are exported at significantly higher value, making polished diamonds one of Israel’s top export categories by dollar value in multiple recent years.
Economists say the model highlights how value is created through expertise and infrastructure rather than natural resources. Israel developed a global reputation for precision cutting, quality assurance and trading networks that connect producers with major consumer markets in the United States, Europe and Asia.
The country’s diamond sector has also played a role in financing, logistics and certification services that support international trade flows.
While Israel’s export profile has diversified in recent years with growth in technology and defense industries, diamonds continue to account for a substantial share of merchandise exports in official trade figures.
The absence of domestic mines has not limited the sector’s scale, underscoring how processing hubs can dominate global supply chains without controlling raw materials.
