US Polished Trade Picks Up in January

RAPAPORT... Polished-diamond imports to the US grew 3% to $1.81billion in January, according to government data. By volume, polished imports slid 4% to 805,320 carats, whilethe average price of imports jumped 7% to $2,252 per carat. US polished exports, meanwhile, jumped 22% to $1.52 billion,causing net polished imports - the excess of imports over exports -to slide 44% to $289 million. Rough exports plummeted 73% to $15 million, while roughimports slumped 53% to $57 million, meaning net rough imports dropped 35% to$42 million. The US net diamond account -its total rough and polished imports minus total exports - plunged 43% to $331million.Image:Tupungato/Shutterstock