U.S. polished diamond imports rise 22% in May

In May 2013, U.S. recorded a 22 percent increase (on y-o-y basis) in its polished diamond imports, which valued $3.192 billion. In volume terms the said imports stood flat at 1.5 million carats. The average price of the said diamonds rose 23 percent to $2,117 per carat, reports add.

Exports of polished diamonds also rose, by 13 percent to $1.485 billion. The per carat price rose 45 percent to $1,787 per carat. IN the said month, net imports, (valued as excess of imports over imports), increased by 32 percent to $1.707 billion, reports say.

The imports of rough diamonds dropped 4 percent to $53 million and exports of rough diamonds decreased 44 percent to $15 million. The net rough imports jumped 34 percent to $38 million.

The May net diamond account of the country (valued as total imports of rough and polished less total exports), rose 32 percent to $1.669 billion, reports say.