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RAPAPORT... U.S. polished diamond imports contracted 11.8 percent year on year to $1.793 billion in April. However, polished exports plunged 24.5 percent to $1.213 billion, leaving net imports up 36.2 percent to $580 million. By volume, polished imports fell 10.7 percent to 789,072 carats, while exports dropped 11.1 percent to 830,943 carats.
Rough diamond imports fell 63.3 percent to $22 million, while rough exports dropped 60.9 percent to $18 million, leaving net imports down 73.3 percent at $4 million. The net diamond account in April, reflecting the difference between net imports and exports, rose 32.4 percent to $584 million.
Polished diamond imports for the first four months of 2015 were basically flat at $7.519 billion; however, polished exports fell 7.1 percent to $6.109 billion, resulting in net imports of $1.41 billion, compared with $909 million one year earlier. Rough diamond imports plunged 71.7 percent to $76 million and rough exports declined 76.6 percent to $44 million, leaving net imports down 60 percent at $32 million. The net diamond account for the period surged 45.8 percent to $1.442 billion.
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