Papers by Author: Liang Li

Abstract: China becomes the biggest producing country of synthetic diamond in the world. China’s output in 2010 is in excess of 7 billion carats. The yearly average increase rate is nearly 20% for the last 10 years. It almost accounts for 90% of the world’s production. China’s diamond is exported to 58 countries and regions in 2009. The yearly average export increase rate is about 30% for the last 10 years. Two main reasons supported such growth: 1) Continuous improvements made to the diamond synthesizing technology and as a result quality becoming better and better and to a large extend Chinese diamond is close to or equal to those made by her Western counterparts in terms of quality. 2) Competitive prices. The average price is only about $0.05 per carat in 2009, making it irresistible for world users to turn to Chinese diamond. Diamond producers in the Western countries turn to produce more profitable products like PCD & PCBN. This paper delivers some key statistics of Chinese diamond output and export in the last 10 years; it also highlights the diamond import in USA and Japan. The USA is the biggest consumer of China’s diamond. The supply & demand pattern for synthetic diamond is very much different from what it used to be 10 years ago. All these facts are further illustrated by the 10 figures and 1 table in this paper.

Abstract: The development of China as the world's manufacturing house is best exemplified in the industry of diamond superabrasives. Diamond is indispensable in the creation of industrial infrastructure, including the construction of roads and building of houses. The diamond market was previously dominated by countries outside China. However, a "great leap forward" has taken in China with rapid expansion in Chinese diamond-making capabilities from the enlargement of the equipment (cubic presses) and improvements in diamond yield and product quality in the end of last century. In the new millennium, China outpaced the rest world combined in the total diamond output, became the largest producer in the world indubitably. This paper presents the progress in recent years based on the statitics, and also an outlook of the future development of the Chinese superabrasives industry based on the Chinese macroeconomics and the recent data of the end-users as well as their future development trend.