(IDEX Online) - Israel's diamond trade suffered another blow in August, with rough imports down 69 per cent year-on-year and rough exports down by 80 per cent.The figures were significantly worse than July, when imports and exports fell by 46 per cent and 44 per cent respectively.Israel imported a total of 314,371 carats, at a cost of $49.8m in August, according to new figures released by the Ministry of Economy and Industry.Ofir Gore, diamond controller, did not provide a comment, but said slow trade in July was due to a global diamond industry that was still in crisis.Total polished exports for January to August were down 22 per cent to $2.18bn. Total rough exports for the same were down 56 per cent to $543m.Pic shows Israel Diamond Exchange