U.S. Rough Diamond Imports Drop in August
October 19, 10 by Edahn Golan
(IDEX Online News) - The U.S. imported a net of $11.3 million worth of rough diamonds in August, a 117.5 percent increase from August 2009 and a 54.7 percent decline from the preceding July of this year. The net volume of trade was again negative, indicating that the U.S. exported more than it imported – a difference of 34,871 carats.
Gross rough diamond imports by the U.S. more than doubled (109.7 percent) from last year to $30.6 million, on imports of 16,979 carats. The volume of imports declined 32.7 percent year over year. The average value of imports was $1,799.72 per carat.
South Africa was the U.S. main supplier of rough, 7,849 carats worth $14.9 million at an average value of $1,900.39 p/c. Angola continues as the second largest supplier, shipping 2,569 carats with a declared value of $12.1 million carrying a high average value of $4,708.20 p/c.
Rough diamond exports of 51,850 carats at $19.3 million carats, are 1 percent increase in volume and a 93 percent increase in value. The average value of exports in August was $371.53 p/c.
Most exports, $11 million worth of rough diamonds, were shipped to Israel.
