Japan Polished Imports Leap 40%, India Leading Supplier

(IDEX Online News) – After a weak January, polished diamond imports by Japan have returned to its more typical trading mode. Year-over-year, the value of imports increased 40.4 percent to $70.4 million in February.

Traditionally, polished imports in February register a decline compared to January, this year the decline was just 2.5 percent, based on figures released by Momozawa & Co., Inc.

The volume of imports declined 22.8 percent year-over-year to 136,057 carats. This too, is a typical Japanese trend of shifting to higher value goods.

The increase in the average value of imports was a large 82 percent to $517.64 per carat.

India continues to be Japan's main polished diamond supplier, 96,498 carats worth $30.3 million, an 11.3 percent increase.

Belgium was source of $12.6 million worth of goods, a 23.2 percent increase.