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Israel's Polished Diamond Exports Rose 15% in September and 20% Since Beginning of 2004
Israel's diamond industry continued to show significant growth in September and in the first nine months of 2004, according to statistics reported by the Israel Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor's Diamond Controller, Shmuel Mordechai.
(PRWEB) November 6, 2004 -- Net exports of polished diamonds from Israel
http://www.diamond-il.co.il/English/Article.aspx?boneId=743&objid=86
rose 15.3% to reach $579.4 million, compared to $502.5 million in September 2003. During the first nine months of the year net polished exports grew 20.4%, reaching $4.902 billion, compared to $4.073 billion in the same period in 2003.
Imports of rough diamonds
http://www.diamond-il.co.il/English/article.aspx?boneID=1084
also continued to grow, rising 22.2% in September to $446.1 million, compared to $365.2 million in September 2003. Since the beginning of the year rough diamond imports rose 36% to reach $3.901 billion, compared to $2.868 billion for the same period in 2003. Rough diamond exports from Israel rose 5.9% in September to reach $211.8 million, up from $200.1 million in September 2003. For the first nine months rough diamond exports increased 38.9% to $2.256 billion, up from $1.624 million for the same period in 2003.
Israel's imports of polished diamonds decreased 12% in September, reaching $299.60 million, compared to $340.6 million for the month last year. Since the beginning of the year they rose 6.5% to reach $2.487 billion, up from $2.334 billion for the same period in 2003.
The major export markets for Israel's polished diamonds in September were the United States with 60%, Hong Kong 23%, Belgium 6%, Switzerland 2% and Thailand 2%. Since the beginning of the year exports to the U.S. rose 18%, to Hong Kong 42%, Belgium 18%, Thailand 36% and Switzerland 3%.
Industry leaders said that September's figures were especially impressive, considering that September was the High Holiday season and the industry was closed for several days during the month.
Simcha Lustig, Chairman of the Israel Diamond Institute, was pleased with the results for September and for the year thus far. "Demand for Israeli diamonds is quite high in both the Far East and the United States. In addition to our traditional markets we are seeing the development of new ones -- such as Thailand, which has grown impressively during this year. At the important exhibitions in Hong Kong and New York during September, we saw a brisk trade in Israeli diamonds. The industry is gearing up for a very active winter season," he said.
You can read more about the diamond polishing wheel in
http://www.diamond-il.co.il/English/article.aspx?boneID=1047
and diamond suppliers in israel at:
http://www.diamond-il.co.il/English/Article.aspx?boneId=987&objid=29
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