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US Polished Imports Slump in April
Jun 17, 2019 8:07 AM
By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT... The US polished-diamond trade slowed in April, with imports
declining and exports stable. The drop in import value reflects both a lower volume
and average price.
US Diamond Trade Data for April 2019
Millions unless stated otherwise |
Apr 2019 |
Year-on-year change |
Polished imports |
$1,496 |
-20% |
Polished exports |
$1,501 |
7% |
Net polished imports |
$-5 |
2018: Surplus of $464M |
Rough imports |
$28 |
-39% |
Rough exports |
$9 |
-85% |
Net rough imports |
$19 |
2018: Deficit of $15M |
Net diamond account |
$14 |
- 97% |
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Polished imports: volume |
682,140 carats |
-9% |
Average price of polished imports |
$2,193/carat |
-12% |
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Millions unless stated otherwise |
Jan-Apr 2019 |
Year-on-year change |
Polished imports |
$7,006 |
-2% |
Polished exports |
$6,532 |
1% |
Net polished imports |
$474 |
-33% |
Rough imports |
$141 |
-41% |
Rough exports |
$138 |
-32% |
Net rough imports |
$3 |
-93% |
Net diamond account |
$477 |
- 36% |
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Polished imports: volume |
3.1 million carats |
3% |
Average price of polished imports |
$2,251/carat |
-5% |
Source: US Census Bureau; Rapaport archives
About the data: The US,
the world’s largest diamond retail market, is a net importer of polished. As
such, net polished imports — representing polished imports
minus polished exports — will usually be a positive number. Net rough
imports — calculated as rough imports minus rough exports — will also
generally be in surplus. The nation has no operational diamond mines but has a
manufacturing sector, so normally ships more rough in than out. The net
diamond account is total rough and polished imports minus total
exports. It is the US’s diamond trade balance, and shows the added value the
nation creates by importing — and ultimately consuming — diamonds.
Image: The west end of the New York diamond district at the corner of 47th Street and 6th Avenue. (Tdorante 10)
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Tags:
net diamond account, net polished imports, Rapaport News, US data, US Polished Imports
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