U.S. polished diamond imports rose only 0.9 percent year on year to $2.224 billion in October.
By volume, imports plunged 18.1 percent to slightly more than 1 million carats, while the average price jumped 23 percent to $2,142 per carat. Polished exports increased only 0.7 percent to $1.528 billion, leaving net imports up 1.1 percent to $713 million, according to Diamonds.net.
Rough imports in October surged 21.2 percent to $40 million, while rough exports jumped 18.2 percent to $39 million, leaving net imports of $1 million compared with a deficit of almost $1 million in October 2013.
The net diamond account, reflecting the difference between net imports and exports, improved 1.4 percent year on year to $714 million.
Polished diamond imports for the first 10 months of the year have risen 5.3 percent to $20.286 billion, while polished exports jumped 10.4 percent to $17.923 billion, leaving net imports down 22.3 percent to $2.364 billion.
Meanwhile, rough imports have jumped 26.4 percent to $502 million and rough exports have surged 38.7 percent to $337 million, leaving net imports 7.2 percent higher at $163 million. The net diamond account for January through October deteriorated by 20.9 percent to $2.527 billion.
