U.S. Polished Imports Rise 2.05% in November

Imports of polished diamonds to the U.S. have increased to $1.442 billion in November, a modest 2.05 percent increase over November 2005. The country imported 1,204,263 carats of polished, a 4.43 percent decline. Average price per carat rose for the fourth consecutive month, reaching $1,197.39 p/c, that’s a 6.78 percent rise.

During the January to November period, the country imported $15.34 billion worth of polished diamonds weighing 16,181,533 carats, averaging $948.28 p/c. This is an 8.23 percent increase in value and a 2.85 percent rise in volume, pushing average per carat value up 5.24 percent.

Israel, the U.S.’s leading polished diamond supplier by value, shipped $789,657,720 worth of goods, 311,476 carats, with an average value of $2,535.21 p/c. Belgium was the source of $278,660,324 worth of goods weighing 145,325 carats - $1,917.50 p/c.

India, the largest supplier by volume, shipped 641,060 carats worth $223,159,248, averaging $348.11 p/c.

To date, Israel supplied the U.S. with 51.9 percent of all polished goods by value, while India supplied the majority of goods by volume – 58.7 percent.