U.S. Polished Diamond Imports +9% in March

RAPAPORT...  U.S. polished diamond imports rose 9 percent year on year to $2.151 billion in March, a new record high for the month. The average price of goods was basically flat at $2,001 per carat. Polished exports slipped 8 percent to $1.732 billion, leaving net imports of $419 million compared with $91 million one year earlier.

Rough imports fell 69.5 percent to $25 million in March, while rough exports dropped 83.6 percent to $9 million, leaving net imports down 38.5 percent at $16 million. The net diamond account in March jumped 271.8 percent to $435 million.

During the first quarter of 2015, polished diamond imports rose 4.9 percent $5.726 billion, while polished diamond exports fell 1.5 percent  $4.896 billion, leaving net imports up 71.6 percent at  $829 million. Rough diamond imports declined 74.2 percent  $54 million and rough diamond exports contracted 81.7 percent to $26 million, leaving net rough imports  down 58.2 percent  at $28 million. The net diamond account for the first quarter jumped 55.8 percent to $857 million.