U.S. March Polished Diamond Imports $1.527 billion

U.S. polished diamond imports in March increased 0.58 percent in value compared to March 2006 to $1.527 billion. By volume, however, imports declined by 24.93 percent to 1,316,949 carats. Compared to the previous month, however, polished imports rose 7.97 percent in value and 7.82 percent in volume.

The average value of imports in March rose to $1,159.56 per carat (p/c), a 33.98 percent rise year-over-year, and a 0.14 percent rise compared to February 2007.

Imports from Israel totaled $814 million on shipments of 318,983 carats, an average of $2,551.85 p/c. Imports from India totaled 764,445 carats and were valued at $309.5 million, averaging $404.89 p/c.

Polished diamonds from Belgium totaled 122,571 carats and were worth $249.26 million, an average of $2,033.59 p/c.

In the first quarter of the year, the U.S. imported 3,936,680 carats worth $4.381 billion at an average of $1,112.93 p/c.