Imports of polished diamonds in the United States in September 2013 rose by 12.7% on a year-on-year basis to $ 1.659 billion, while the average value of imported stones jumped by 28.8% to $ 1,661 per carat, Rapaport reports.
American polished exports for the month increased by 1.5% to $ 1.452 billion, so the net imports of polished stones reached $ 206 million, an increase from $ 42 million in September 2012.
Import of rough diamonds fell by 2.9% to $ 34 million, while exports remained virtually unchanged at $ 17 million. The net import of rough diamonds in the US was $ 17 million, compared to $ 18 million in the same period a year earlier.
The net US diamond account in September (the difference between net imports and exports) jumped by 271.7% on a year-on-year basis to $ 223 million.
In October, polished diamonds worth $ 2.221 billion were imported into the US, up 54.1% from October. The average cost of imported diamonds in October increased by 6.4% to $ 1,741 per carat.
Exports of polished diamonds from the United States in October 2013 increased by 35.4% to $ 1.517 billion, thus, net imports amounted to $ 705 million, up 119.6% from the corresponding figure registered in October 2012.
US imports of rough diamonds for October increased by 22.2% to $ 33 million, while exports jumped 65% to $ 33 million, leaving net imports zero, while the year before, net imports were estimated at $ 7 million. The US
clean diamond account in October grew by 114.9% to $ 705 million.