India’s Rough Diamond Imports Cost Nearly 19% More

The volume of India’s rough diamond imports tapered off compared to last year, declining from 14.8 million carats imported in July 2009 to 13.4 million carats imported this past July. The total value of imports, however, increased 7.4 percent to $942.3 million, according to provisional data figures released by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

The shift in value and volume shows the changes in the price of rough diamonds over the past year. Rough imported into the diamond center increased from an average value of $59.47 per carat last year to $70.58 p/c this year, an 18.7 percent year to year increase.

India exported 2.3 million carats of rough diamonds worth $63.4 million, an average value of $27.43 p/c.