Japan’s November Polished Diamond Imports Flat, Average Value Rises

But while the practically flat imports echoed the October year-over-year trend, the year will probably end with a decline in the value of polished diamond imports in one of the largest global economies.

January-November imports are only 87.8 percent of imports in the previous year, declining 12.2 percent to $829.89 million.

The decline came mostly at the expense of smaller suppliers, while the two largest sources, India and Belgium, have in fact increased their exports to Japan.

Imports from India of 147,814 carats worth $28.61 million meant a 6.8 percent rise in value and a 4.4 percent decline in volume. The average value of these imports stood at $193.52 p/c.

Belgium shipped 19,524 carats worth $23.46 million, a 31.6 percent rise in value and 12 percent rise in volume. The average value of imports was $1,201.50 p/c.

Imports from Israel declined 23.7 percent to $8.07 million, while the volume of goods rose 2.8 percent to 8,896 carats averaging $907.15 p/c.