WASHINGTON: U.S. polished diamond imports rose to the highest level seen in the seasonally slow month of August in three years. Inbound shipments of polished rose 2.4 percent to $1.66 billion, the strongest August since 2013 when orders stood at $1.67 billion, according to government figures. The month was the quietest so far this year because markets slowed down in the summer.
Polished imports by weight jumped 4 percent to 906,469 carats, while the average price declined 1.5 percent to $1,833 per carat. Polished diamond exports, meanwhile, increased 3 percent to $1.38 billion, driving net imports down 0.7 percent to $280 million. Rough diamond imports slumped 69 percent to $13.4 million, while rough exports were halved to $16 million, leaving net rough imports at negative $2 million versus positive $11 million a year ago. The county’s net diamond account for August dipped 0.7 percent to $280 million. During the first eight months of the year, polished imports fell 2.7 percent to $15.62 billion and polished exports retreated 1.2 percent to $12.76 billion, resulting in net imports sliding 9 percent to $2.87 billion.
