World market picks up. The World Diamond Council has announced that the international diamond market is recovering. The start of the discovery began at the end of 2009 and gathered strength throughout 2010. Although there are no consolidated international figures, the World Diamond Council estimates that around $13 billion in rough diamonds are produced every year, 65% of them coming from Africa. International sales of diamonds used in jewellery are estimated to be worth $72 billion. Overall, for the three first quarters of 2010, the markets regained their 2008 level but still remain around 20% below the level for 2007, which was, however, an exceptional year. Canada is benefiting from this upturn, even though the country, which accounts for between 10 and 12% of worldwide production, had suffered from the 2009 session. In the Congo, the fourth main producer of cut diamonds, several companies are, nevertheless, confronting difficulties. Although the US remains the biggest consumer of diamonds in the world, strong growth in Asia, particularly in India, is changing this environment. India is also now playing the role of a driving force in the consumption of cut diamonds. In this context of strong growth in Asia, a diamond market has opened in South Korea and India has just launched a new diamond trading market in Bombay. According to official sources, the Indian diamond industry could experience growth rates of between 10 and 15% on average a year over the next five years, thanks to this new diamond trading market. The Bombay diamond market is now with Antwerp, New York and Tel Aviv in the leading runners of diamond trading markets. The Israeli market experienced an average increase of 70% in its rough and cut diamonds in the first three months of 2010, compared to the same period in 2009. (I.L./transl.fl)