Editor’s Note
Colombia solidifies its status as the world’s top emerald supplier, commanding nearly 55% of the global market with a projected growth rate of 6.1% by 2026.
Colombia remains the world’s leading supplier of emeralds, with a projected growth rate of 6.1% by 2026.
Colombia continues to position itself as one of the world’s leading references in emeralds, thanks to the quality and exclusivity of its stones. These gems, recognized for their intense green color and natural rarity, have become one of the country’s main export products, accounting for nearly 55% of the global market share, according to data from ProColombia.
In 2025 alone, Colombian emerald exports are estimated to have reached US$116 million, according to figures from Fedesmeraldas. In fact, currently about 95% of these precious stones are exported, equivalent to approximately 3.8 million carats reaching international markets each year.
María Inés Hincapié, CEO of Aria Gems, who has driven the export of Colombian emeralds to strategic destinations such as the United States, Hong Kong, and Thailand, with sales exceeding US$8.7 million, noted that today, international buyers no longer focus solely on the size of the emerald, but on attributes that determine its exclusivity and market value, such as an intense and uniform green color, a high-quality crystal that provides brilliance, transparency, and life to the stone, as well as a carefully crafted cut that enhances light and highlights the gem’s natural color.
This vision has also led Hincapié to promote formalization and transformation processes within an industry historically dominated by men and marked for years by informality. Originally from Muzo, Boyacá, considered the world capital of emeralds, she began her career in the sector as a guaquera (artisanal miner) in the mines of her municipality. Over the years, she moved from extracting and trading precious stones to consolidating Aria Gems, a company that now participates in international markets and specialized jewelry and gemology fairs, bringing the Colombian seal to luxury showcases in Asia and North America, while promoting practices focused on traceability, quality, and trust within the Colombian emerald business.
According to data from the consultancy Dataintelo, the global emerald industry is projected to grow by 6.1% during 2026, with Colombia being one of the main exporters of these stones in the world. The growing demand for luxury jewelry and certified-origin stones in markets such as the United States and Asia is also driving new opportunities for the Colombian sector, which today seeks to strengthen formalization, traceability, and value-added processes to maintain its global leadership.
