Israeli Jewelry Exports Rise 13.33%
August 04, 04Jewelry exports from Israel have risen handsomely in June and during the first half of the year, led by gold jewelry and diamond & precious stones set jewelry.
According to Sigal Shidlovsky, Director of the Jewelry Division, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, exports totaled $170 million during the January-June period, rising 13.33 over $150 million in jewelry exports during the comparable period last year. 55 percent of the exported items were gold jewelry followed by gold jewelry set with diamonds and precious gems, with a 35 percent share of exports.
Fashion and silver jewelry exports from the country represented 7 and 3 percent respectively.
As in loose polished diamonds, the U.S. was the leading destination for gold, diamonds and precious gems set jewelry.
Gold jewelry: U.S. – 76 percent, U.K. – 5 percent, Thailand - 4 percent, Italy – 3.6 percent, Russia - 2 percent.
Diamond jewelry: U.S. – 54 percent, U.K. – 15 percent, Switzerland and others - 10 percent.
Precious gems jewelry: U.S. – 38 percent, Russia– 29, Panama and others – 6 percent.
In June alone, exports of diamond jewelry and precious stones set jewelry totaled $10.885 million, a 36 percent rise over $7.986 million exported in June 2003.