WASHINGTON: U.S. polished diamond imports fell 23 percent year on year to $1.6 billion in September, the second-lowest monthly figure so far this year. Diamond imports by weight fell 19 percent to 923,229 carats, at an average price of $1,774 per carat. Polished diamond exports, meanwhile, fell 17 percent to $1.5 billion, driving net imports down 37 percent to $178.1 million. In August, imports were $1.6 billion.
Rough diamond exports soared 199 percent to $14.9 million, while rough imports increased 16 percent in September to $34.8 million, leaving net rough imports down 21 percent at $19.9 million. The net diamond account, reflecting the difference between net imports and exports, dropped 50 percent to $398.8 million.
During the first nine months of the year, polished diamond imports fell 2 percent year on year to $17.7 billion and polished exports fell 12 percent to $14.4 billion, resulting in net imports increasing 101 percent to $3.3 billion.
