Israel’s polished diamond exports in April 2010 reflected a whooping 417 percent rise to $482.9 million, reports say. Reports add that the large increase was influenced by the weakness still evident in the diamond market during April 2009, when Israel imported just $93.4 million worth of polished diamonds. In April 2010, the country’s rough diamond exports rose 114 percent to $232 million.

The combined total exports of polished and rough diamonds increased 254 percent to $714.9 million, reports say. The country imported $556.6 million worth of combined rough and polished diamonds in April this year, indicating an 84 percent increase.

The country’s net diamond account in April (excess of total exports over imports) rose to $158.3 million, as compared to the negative $101.2 million in April 2009. The first four months of 2010, the country’s net diamond account increased 45 percent to $695.7 million.