Japan July Polished Imports Flat

It could be too early to say but imports of polished diamonds to Japan may have reversed their course from a “more and cheaper goods” trend witnessed in past months to a “more goods” trend. In July Japan imported $73.96 million worth of goods weighing 222,369 carats representing no growth in value and a 13 percent decrease in volume.

While these imports still reflect a lower year-over-year per carat value - decreasing to $332.62 per carat in July from $372.35 p/c last year - the downward trend in value started to reverse in June, when imports of more and cheaper polished diamonds continued, though to a lesser degree.

Source: The J Club Inc, Japan

Looking at the two leading sources of polished to Japan, India and Belgium, reveals an interesting development. Shipments from India increased 16.3 percent in volume (169,904 carats) while decreasing 14.7 percent in value to $25.56 million.

Imports from Belgium, on the other hand, decreased 14.4 percent in volume (16,209 carats) while rising 8.8 percent in value to $22.93 million. In other words, in cheaper goods, Japan imported more of them at an even lower price. In the expensive goods, it imported less of them, but paid much more.

In the January-July period, Japan imported 1,403,325 carats worth $490.32 million, an 8.06 percent year-over-year decrease in value and 5.99 percent increase in volume.

Source: The J Club Inc, Japan