Editor’s Note
This article discusses a strategic US-Japan initiative to establish a synthetic diamond production facility in the United States. The move is positioned as a response to China’s export controls and aligns with broader investment plans.
The United States and Japan are discussing plans to build a synthetic diamond plant in the US to counter China’s export control measures on synthetic diamonds. This initiative is expected to be part of Japan’s $550 billion investment plan in the United States.
On the 26th (local time), Reuters, citing multiple sources, reported that the plan could be included in the first package of US investment projects to be announced ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to the US, scheduled for as early as March.
One source stated:
Another source added:
De Beers, a diamond processing company headquartered in London, UK, has virtually monopolized the global diamond market for over a century but has suffered significant financial damage due to the expansion of the synthetic diamond market.
Additionally, a large-scale power generation project involving Japan’s Hitachi may also be included in the first announced project group.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry stated, “We are in discussions to quickly build a project pipeline with the United States, but nothing has been decided yet,” refraining from detailed comments. Hitachi also said it is “in discussions with the US and Japanese governments” but made no further remarks.
Diamonds are used for ultra-precise polishing of semiconductors, processing of hard metals and ceramics used in quantum devices, and heat dissipation in advanced electronic systems. They are used not only in civilian industries but also in military fields such as ammunition and radar component production.
Currently, China accounts for 50-60% of global synthetic diamond production volume but has been implementing measures to restrict the export of industrial synthetic diamonds since November last year.