U.S. Polished Diamond Imports Rise 2.5+% in July

The U.S. imported $1.512 billion worth of polished diamonds into the U.S. in July of this year, an increase of 2.49 percent compared to July 2005. The total weight of imports was 1,561,754 carats, an increase of 2.96 percent. Average price per carat (p/c) declined 0.45 percent to $968.40.

Fifty percent of imports by value, $753.4 million, were exported from Israel, on shipments of 347,984 carats, which was the second largest source by value, an average value of $2,165 p/c. India was the leading supplier by volume, supplying July 893,257 carats worth $296 million for an average value of $331 p/c.

Belgium, the second largest supplier to the U.S. by value and the third by volume, shipped 177,782 carats worth $ 323 million averaging $1,816 p/c.