IDEX Price Report for 1 June: Markets Subdued, Prices Stagnant

(IDEX Online) - Markets remained subdued in May, as reflected in price movements that were much like those of the previous month. There were some signs of stability, although price drops still outweighed overall gains among both rounds and fancies.

Demand from China remains weak, manufacturers in India say business remains slow (polished diamond exports were down in April by 16.8 per cent, an improvement on the 27 per cent drop in March), G7 sanctions on Russian goods are starting bite, and further restrictions (all goods 0.50-cts and above) are due to come in on 1 September, although there has been considerable pushback from the US and African producers. There's also ongoing uncertainty over the future of De Beers, which may well be sold, and its parent company Anglo American.

The silver lining is that JCK kicked off in Las Vegas yesterday (31 May) amid hopes that it might provide the industry with a much-needed boost.

Rounds

Price drops still dominated overall, although there were a significant number of rises among goods over 2.00-cts. Very little activity in goods under 0.50-cts. Among 0.50-cts to 1.99-cts most of the downward movement was among I+ and SI+ goods.

Fancies

As with rounds, fancies also saw another month of losses, together with some clusters of increases in goods over 2.00-cts. Increases matched or outweighed losses among 2.00-cts to 3.99-cts. The biggest concentration of price drops was among 1.24-cts to 1.49-cts. A smattering of rises among 0.23-cts to 0.29-cts.

Rounds

0.18-0.22 ct. F-H / IF +3-3.5%, F-G / SI2 -5%

0.23-0.29 ct. D-E / VS2-SI1 -3-3.5%, L / IF-VVS2 +6-6.5%

0.30-0.39 ct. I / SI2 -5%

0.40-0.44 ct. D / IF -3%

0.45-0.49 ct. D / IF-VVS2 -2-5%

0.50-0.69 ct. D-G / IF-VS1 -2-5%

0.70-0.79 ct. D-F / IF-VS1 -2.5-4.5%

0.80-0.89 ct. D-G / IF-VS2-SI1 -1.5-5%

0.90-0.99 ct. D-E / IF-VVS1 -3-4.5% 

1.00-1.24 ct. D-H / IF-VVS1 -1-6%, D-E / VVS2 -VS1 +2.5-4.5%

1.25-1.49 ct. F-I / IF-SI1 -2-6%

1.50-1.99 ct. H-J / IF-VS1 -1-6.5%, E-F / VVS2-VS2 +1.5-4%

2.00-2.99 ct. D-H / VVS2-VS2 +2-5%, F-H / IF-VVS1 -1-5%

3.00-3.99 ct. D-H / VVS2-VS2 +2-5%, D-L / SI3 -2.5-5%

4.00-4.99 ct. G-I / IF-VS2 +1.5-5%, K-N / IF-VS2 -0.5-4.5%

5.00-5.99 ct. D-H / IF-VVS2 +4-4.5%, J-M / IF-I1 -0.5-5.5%

Fancy Cuts

0.18-0.22 ct. H-I / I3 +20%

0.23-0.29 ct. F-I / SI3-I1 +7.5-10%

0.30-0.39 ct. K / IF-VVS2 -4-9.5%

0.40-0.44 ct. D / IF-VVS2 -5.5-7%

0.45-0.49 ct. D-F / IF-VS1 -3.5-7%

0.50-0.69 ct. D-G / IF-VS1 -5-7%

0.70-0.79 ct. D-F / IF-SI1 -1.5-4.5%

0.80-0.89 ct. D-H / IF-VS2 -1.5-4%, L-M /SI3-I1 +5-8%

0.90-0.99 ct. D / IF-VVS2 -2-4.5%, D-E / VS1 +2-3%

1.00-1.24 ct. E-H / IF- VVS2 -1.5-6.5%

1.25-1.49 ct. F-I / IF-SI1 -1.5-6%

1.50-1.99 ct. H-I / IF-SI2 -1.5-4.5%, E / VVS1-VS2 +1-1.5%

2.00-2.99 ct. I-K / VVS1-SI2 -1-4.5%, E-G / VVS2-VS2 +3-5%

3.00-3.99 ct. D-G / VVS1-VS2 +1-5%, D-I / SI3 -1-5%

4.00-4.99 ct. D-G / IF-VS1 +0.5-4.5%, H-J / IF-VVS2 -2-3.5%

5.00-5.99 ct. E-G / VVS2-VS2 +3.5-4.5%, G-N / IF-VVS1 -1-4%