As per market reports, Japan’s polished diamond imports decreased by 16.8 per cent to $237.14 million, and fell 11 per cent in volume to 609,542 carats in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same quarter a year ago.

Polished imports from India – Japan’s biggest supplier – declined by 22 per cent to $100 million, while falling 18 per cent in volume to 428,015 carats. The average value of polished goods from India fell 5 per cent to $233.63 per carat.

The average value of Japan’s polished imports declined by 6.5 per cent to $389 per carat on a year-on-year basis.