Israeli Polished Diamond Exports Edge Down 2% in H1

(IDEX Online News) – Israeli exports of polished diamonds showed a slight decline on the year in the first six months of 2013 – declining by 2 percent to $3.23 billion.‎

The country posted a drop of 5 percent in polished diamond imports to $2.08 billion in the first half of this year.

Meanwhile, rough imports edged up 3 percent to $2.04 billion in the half-year period.

Rough exports rose 8 percent to $1.64 billion.

Israel's Diamond Controller, Shmuel Mordechai, said there had been stability in rough and polished trading compared to the first six months of last year, and this had taken place in spite of the global economic environment and slowdown in the diamond industry.

He said he was hopeful of a stronger recovery in the rest of the year.

Mordechai added that trends at The JCK Show Las Vegas and Hong Kong jewelry show last month had provided evidence of stability in markets across the world.