U.S. Rough Diamond Imports Net $71.4 Million in February

The U.S. imported in February a net total of 43,638 carats of rough diamonds worth $71.38 million. The average value of the net imports was $1,636 per carat, a 34.63 percent year-over-year decline.

Gross imports of rough diamonds stood at $72.55 million, a decline of 15.19 percent, for imports of 49,059 carats averaging $1,479 per carat.

South Africa, the leading source of rough, supplied 7,772 carats worth $30.82 million, an average of $3,966 per carat.

Exports in February averaged $216 per carat, though not all of it was low cost goods. While rough exports to Belgium and India averaged $74 per carat and $55 per carat (respectively), goods averaging a high $1,756 per carat were exported to China.