For the third quarter of the current year, Russia’s rough diamond exports dived 28 percent on y-o-y basis to 5.416 million carats, as per reports. The value of the exports amounted to $ 583 million or 1.7 times less than that of last year, reports say. Alrosa, which is the major diamond producing company sold 4.9 million carats in the said quarter.

For the quarter, among Russia’s export markets, Belgium proved the largest buyer in value and volume terms. Antwerp’s purchases dropped 27 percent on y-o-y basis, while India, purchased 1.024 million carats or a decline of 41 percent. Israel imported $ 59 million worth of diamonds from Russia.

Russia’s rough diamond imports in the said quarter dropped 10 percent in Q3 to 7,250 carats or worth around $22.7 million, reports say. For the first nine months of 2015, Russia’s rough diamond exports dipped 17.6 percent on y-o-y basis to 20.38 million carats, as per reports.