【Surat, India】As Trade Dulls, Antwerp Cuts Barriers for Polishers

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Editor’s Note

This article examines the dual pressures facing India’s diamond industry—market slowdowns and competition from lab-grown gems—while highlighting a potential lifeline: Belgium’s relaxed work permits aimed at reviving Antwerp’s historic trade hub status.

As trade dulls, Antwerp cuts barriers for polishers
Industry Challenges and a New Opportunity

Surat: The natural diamond cutting and polishing industry is in a trough due to the US and China markets slowing, the availability of cheaper lab-grown diamonds and the US tariff (50%) on Indian imports.
One segment of this industry sees hope in the recently announced easing of Belgian work permits for diamond polishers.
This is seen as an attempt to re-establish Antwerp as the hub of the diamond trade when most of it has shifted to Dubai.
The European Union already enjoys a 0% US tariff and Indian diamond manufacturers are exploring options to exploit this new work permit relaxation by carrying out processing in Antwerp.

“Like Botswana, Indian manufacturers can get the initial and final cutting or polishing done there after work here. This will enable manufacturers to take advantage of the 0% tariff,” said an industry expert from Mumbai.
As trade dulls, Antwerp cuts barriers for polishers
Policy Change to Address Labor Shortage

The Flemish govt, which administers the Dutch-speaking northern region of Belgium where Antwerp is located, recently decided that foreign workers may be employed in the “shortage occupations” of diamond polishers and diamond sorters.
The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) said this would boost the sector, which faces a structural shortage of these specialized workers. They are scarce on the local market, yet are essential to keeping Antwerp competitive as a diamond trading centre, the AWDC asserts.
The eased permit procedure will come into force on Jan 1, 2026.

“To remain competitive as a diamond trading centre, our companies must be able to hire polishers and sorters from outside Europe quickly and easily, and this decision now makes that possible,” says Karen Rentmeesters, CEO of AWDC.
“Companies want to have their rough stones polished here to benefit from that zero tariff — but to offer them that possibility, we naturally need enough polishers,” Rentmeesters added.
As trade dulls, Antwerp cuts barriers for polishers
Industry Reaction and Market Context

An Antwerp-based leading diamond businessman said, “Diamond firms have manufacturing facilities in Antwerp, and can expand them by taking advantage of the recent announcement.”

“The announcement on hiring of foreign workers is a good move to boost the trade in Antwerp. Leading diamond companies already have offices and workplaces here, and this will encourage them,” said Raju Patel, an Antwerp-based diamond trader.

Most diamond manufacturers in India and Surat have offices and polishing facilities in Antwerp. However, their operations have reduced significantly. According to an industry insider, there were 28,000 diamond workers employed in Antwerp earlier, but this number has dropped to less than 1,000.
Dubai has replaced Antwerp as the world’s diamond trade hub over the past few years. In 2024, Dubai exported 85 million carats of rough diamonds valued at $9.8 billion, more than double Antwerp’s 39 million carats worth $4 billion. This marks a complete reversal of how things stood in 2018 when Antwerp dominated the market with 122 million carats valued at $12 billion, as against Dubai’s 75 million carats worth $9 billion.
Meanwhile, wages, costs, taxes, rules and regulations are other factors that affected trade in Antwerp.

As trade dulls, Antwerp cuts barriers for polishers
“India has the best skilled and cheapest workforce in diamond cutting and polishing. The robust polishing infrastructure is also an advantage,” a manufacturer said.
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⏰ Published on: December 03, 2025