Polished diamond exports leaped 14.4% imports up

According to the diamond supervisor of the Trade and Industry Ministry, Shmuel Mordechai Israel exported last year $6.3 billion of polished diamonds.
 
This was a 14% increase on 2003. The diamond controller said in a press release that the increase in exports reflected stability in the diamond market in 2004. Exports of uncut diamonds, was up 31% in 2004 to $2.9 billion.
 
The top destination of exported gems was the U.S. (67% of the total), followed by Hong Kong (13%) and Belgium (7%) Switzerland (3%), and Japan (2%).
 
Imports of polished stones in 2004 reached $3.6 billion, a 5% increase, and imports of rough diamonds in 2004 up 32% to $5.2 billion.

Mr. Mordechai added that efforts by the diamond industry and the government to diversify sources of rough diamonds had been successful, since the proportion of imports from De Beers now totaled 18%.