U.S. polished diamond imports drop 17% in April

Polished diamond imports into the U.S dropped in April y 17 percent (on y-o-y basis) to $1.431 billion. In volume terms the said imports dropped 13 percent (on y-o-y basis), to 888,146 carats.

The country’s polished diamond exports also took the plunge, dipping by 13 percent to $1.148 billion. The net polished imports stood at $283 million ($397 million in April 2011).

The country’s rough diamond trade also experienced a decline. Imports of rough diamonds dropped 25 percent to $27 million, while rough diamond exports declined 61 percent to $15 million.

The rough diamond net imports were $12 million (the same was a deficit of $3 million I April 2011). The net diamond account in April decreased 24 percent to $298 million.