Israel’s Net Rough Trade $4.55 Billion in H1
July 04, 11
(IDEX Online News) – Israel’s rough diamond trade leaped by nearly 40% in the first six months of 2011, according to figures released by the country’s Ministry of Industry.
Net rough diamond exports in the period increased by 39.8% to $2.25 billion, compared to $1.6 billion in the first six months of 2010. The ministry did not provide information by carat.
Rough diamond imports totaled $2.5 billion, growing by 36.7% from the $1.8 billion worth of goods imported in the January-June period of 2010.
Diamond Controller Shmuel Mordechai said that total diamond trade increased by about 40% compared to last year, and by 25% compared to 2008.
Rough diamond prices are continuously rising, and some of the increase in Israel’s trade reflects this.