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RAPAPORT... U.S. polished diamond imports were flat year on year in July at $2.134 billion, while the average price per carat increased 2.9 percent to $2,054. Polished diamond exports, on the other hand, rose 6.4 percent to $1.546 billion, leaving net imports down 13.1 percent year on year at $588 million. Rough diamond imports fell 46.5 percent to $46 million in July, while rough exports were flat at $17 million. Net rough imports declined 58 percent to $29 million and the net diamond account, reflecting the difference between net imports and net exports, contracted by 17.3 percent to $617 million when compared with July 2013. Polished diamond imports for the first seven months of 2014 have risen 4.6 percent year on year to $14.346 billion, while polished exports have jumped 12.7 percent to $13.036 billion. The increase in exports eroded net imports 39.2 percent to $1.311 billion. Rough diamond imports, meanwhile, have increased 38.3 percent to $412 million, while rough exports surged 72.7 percent to $266 million, leaving net imports just $2 million higher than one year ago at $145 million. The net diamond account for the January through July period has plunged 36.7 percent year on year to $1.456 billion.
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