Congolese auction a boost for Antwerp’s struggling diamond sector
Congolese diamond mining company SACIM held an auction in Antwerp last week in which more than 288,000 carats of rough diamonds were sold for a total value of 3.2 million dollars. According to the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, which hosted the event, the sale underlines “the commercial relevance of the Antwerp market”.
The prices realised per carat were on average over 40 per cent higher than at a similar recent auction in Dubai, AWDC reports, a boost for the Antwerp sector, which has been struggling for years.
The auction came about thanks to a June 2025 law change in the Democratic Republic of Congo that removed sales restrictions on diamond companies. Since then, SACIM, a joint venture between the Congolese state and China’s AFECC group, has regained free access to the international market.
"The large presence of international buyers physically participating in the auctions creates strong competition"
A total 63 companies collectively booked 87 viewing sessions at the auction, leading to 311 bids by 47 parties. An average of nine bids were submitted per lot.
“The large presence of international buyers physically participating in the auctions creates strong competition leading to an optimal selling price of the goods,” says Karen Rentmeesters, CEO of AWDC. “Our well-equipped auction facilities and Antwerp’s strong reputation for control and transparency also make us a particularly reliable partner for diamond-producing countries.”
By operating under Antwerp’s strict rules, countries such as the DRC can also demonstrate that their diamonds are marketed fairly and responsibly, she says.
“The prices for the rough diamonds achieved here were significantly higher than in other trading centres, and the number of high-quality participants in the tender was also greater," says Anjal Bhansali of Samir Gems in Antwerp, which organised the tender on behalf of SACIM.
#FlandersNewsService | Illustration © PHOTO HEMIS VIA AFP
Related news
