U.S. Polished Diamond Imports -18% in Sept.

U.S. polished diamond imports for September plunged 18 percent year on year to $1.472 billion and polished exports dropped 15 percent to $1.43 billion, leaving net imports of only $42 million compared with $116 million one year ago. The average price per carat for diamond imports fell 22 percent to $1,290, Rapaport reported.
Rough imports dropped 29 percent to $35 million and rough exports plummeted 43 percent to $17 million, however, net rough imports were basically flat at $18 million. The net diamond account in September, reflecting net imports of both polished and rough diamonds, fell to $60 million from $135 million one year ago.
For the first nine months of 2012, polished imports to the U.S. have fallen 11 percent to $14.975 billion and polished exports were down by 7 percent to $12.924 billion. Rough imports have dropped 20 percent $377 million, while rough exports have fallen 26 percent to $238 million. The net diamond account for the U.S. through September  2012 was $2.19 billion compared with $3.083 billion one year ago.