U.S. Polished Imports +22% in May

Polished diamond imports to the U.S. rose 22 percent year on year to $3.192 billion in May, government data showed. Imports by volume were flat at 1.5 million carats while the average price of imported polished diamonds rose 23 percent to $2,117 per carat. Polished diamond exports grew 13 percent to $1.485 billion as the price per carat increased 45 percent to $1,787 per carat. Net imports, representing the excess of imports over imports, rose 32 percent to $1.707 billion.

Rough diamond imports decreased 4 percent to $53 million and rough exports fell 44 percent to $15 million in May. Net rough imports rose 34 percent to $38 million. The U.S. May net diamond account, representing total imports of rough and polished less total exports, increased 32 percent to $1.669 billion.

Polished diamond imports for the first five months of 2013 rose 13 percent year on year to $10.031 billion, while polished exports increased 12 percent to $7.558 billion. Net polished imports rose 18 percent to $2.473 billion. Rough imports weakened 6 percent to $192 million, while rough exports have slipped 28 percent to $110 million. Net rough imports grew 61 percent to $82 million.

The net diamond account for January through May rose 17 percent to $2.391 billion.

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