Israel’s Polished Diamond Exports Rise 2%
June 06, 07 by Edahn Golan
Israel’s polished diamond exports totaled $905.54 million in May, rising 1.8 percent compared to May 2006. The country exported 482,509 carats, a 10.9 percent increase, at an average value of $1,876.74 p/c (per carat).
One possible reason for the rise could be the JCK show in Las Vegas, which opened June 1. Exports to the U.S. in May were $626.23 million, up 2 percent from $613.61 million in May 2006. In addition, diamond prices in the past year have increased in value by an average 1.6 percent, according to the IDEX Online Polished Diamond Price Index.
Exports to Hong Kong totaled $92.39 million, representing a decrease from $114.46 million in May 2006. Exports to Belgium rose to $65.06 million from $52.83 million last year.
Polished diamond exports in the first five months of the year rose 5.4 percent in value to $3.236 billion compared to 2006. Altogether, 1,887,702.29 carats were exported, an increase of 6.2 percent. The average value of exports during the five-month period stood at $1,714.11 p/c.
Imports in May declined 1.6 percent by value to $320.47 million, while rising 1 percent in volume to 282,298 carats. From January to May, Israel imported 1,327,755 carats worth $1.612 billion, a 3.2 percent fall in volume and a 4.4 percent increase in value.
