The World of Emerald Production: Is Colombia Still Leading Today?

When you think of emeralds, Colombia probably springs to mind—and for good reason. For more than fifty years, Colombia has held its place as the world's powerhouse in emerald production, thanks to legendary deposits in Muzo, Cosquez, and Chivor. These lush green stones aren’t just abundant there—they’re some of the most valuable and sought after anywhere.

Shifts in the Emerald Production: Global Landscape

But the global emerald landscape is always evolving. Back in the 1970s and ’80s, Colombia wasn’t just a leader—it was a titan, accounting for nearly 90% of the world’s emerald exports. Then came Zambia's game-changing discovery: the vast deposits at the Kagem mine launched Zambia onto the global stage, gradually making it a rival in both volume and influence.

Fast-forward to the new millennium, and Colombia bounced back with fresh emerald finds, opening a lead once again over Zambia. Today, Colombia still reigns supreme when it comes to gem value—their stones are prized for clarity and deep colour. However, Zambia’s sheer volume of emeralds, mostly from Kagem, means it’s exporting heaps of rough stones and edging closer in terms of overall output.

What about Brazil? Since the 1970s, Brazilian mines have quietly ramped up production, and now the country is a major player—in terms of weight, at least—with local companies like Belmont Emeralds running state-of-the-art operations.

Colombia & Zambia- The Two Heavyweights of Emerald Production

According to the best available figures, about 15,000 kilograms (or 15 metric tonnes) of emeralds are produced every year worldwide, and Colombia and Zambia together supply almost 85% of that total. The rest comes from places like Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Russia—smaller but still significant contributors to the world’s emerald scene.

The Leading Mining Companies in the World of Emeralds

Digging into the companies themselves, Gemfields stands out for its role in operating the colossal Kagem mine in Zambia, widely regarded as the single largest emerald mine in the world. Colombian mines, meanwhile, have seen a wave of foreign investment in the last decade, with Houston-based Minería Texas Colombia (major shareholder of Compañías Muzo Colombia) arriving in 2012 and Dubai’s Fura Gems joining the fray in 2018.

Data About Emerald Production Is Hard to Come Across

Still, if you’re hoping for a neat spreadsheet of emerald production by year and country, you’ll be searching for a while. Detailed numbers aren’t published consistently—but the trends are unmistakable: Colombia remains the world’s luxury emerald supplier, Zambia’s volume keeps climbing, and Brazil’s presence is bigger than ever.