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RAPAPORT... U.S. polished diamond imports rose 9.6 percent year on year to $1.748 billion in February, while the average price per carat increased 5.3 percent to $2,174. However, polished exports rose 1.7 percent to $1.785 billion, resulting in an import deficit of $37 million. Rough diamond imports plunged 79.7 percent to $15 million, while rough exports dropped 83.3 percent to $5 million, leaving net imports of $10 million compared with $43 million one year earlier. The net diamond account in February, reflecting the difference between net imports and net exports, registered a deficit of $27 million compared with a deficit of $117 million one year earlier. Polished diamond imports for the first two months of 2015 rose 2.7 percent to $3.575 billion, while polished exports increased 2.4 percent to $3.164 billion, leaving net imports up 4.8 percent to $411 million. Rough imports plummeted 77.2 percent to $29 million and rough exports declined 80.5 percent to $17 million, leaving net imports down 70 percent at $12 million. The net diamond account for the first two months of the year fell 2.1 percent to $423 million.
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