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RAPAPORT... U.S. polished diamond imports in March rose 8.2 percent year on year to $1.952 billion as the average price of imported polished diamonds surged 13.2 percent to $1,798 per carat. Polished diamond exports registered a decline of 2.5 percent to $1.493 billion, leaving net imports of $459 million, up 68.8 percent compared with March 2012.
Rough diamond imports plummeted 26.9 percent to $38 million, while rough exports declined 42.1 percent to $22 million. Net rough diamond imports, however, rose to $16 million compared with $14 million one year earlier. The U.S. registered net diamond imports of $475 million during the month, compared with $286 million in March 2012.
During the first quarter of 2013, the U.S. posted a 6.5 percent year on year increase for polished diamond imports at $5.129 billion, while the average price per carat of those imports jumped 8.9 percent to $1,719. Polished diamond exports also increased, by 3.9 percent, to $4.464 billion, leaving net imports up 28 percent to $666 million. Rough imports, however, fell 11.7 percent to $106 million, while rough exports plunged 37.3 percent to $69 million, but net imports more than tripled to $36 million. The net diamond account for the first three months of 2013 improved 32.5 percent year on year to $702 million.
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