Diamond Controller in the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Shmuel Mordechai:



"The drop in the import and export of diamonds is due to the financial crisis, but there has been a slight rise in the last quarter of 2009 compared to the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter 2009 in all types of diamonds."



Net exports of polished diamonds (excluding returns) during the first half of 2009 totaled $1.58 billion compared with $3.79 billion last year.

Since the beginning of the year there has been a 58.3% decline in net diamond exports compared to the same period lat year.



Net exports of rough diamonds during the first half of the year totaled $797 million compared to $2.175 billion during the same period last year, constituting a drop of 63.4%.



During the first half of the year, net imports of rough diamonds totaled $853 million compared to $2.771 billion during the same period last year, a drop of 69.2%.



During the first half of the year, net imports of polished diamonds totaled $920 million compared to $2.345 billion during the same period last year, representing a 60.8% decline.



Israel’s Diamond Controller Shmuel Mordechai noted that during the first half of the year exports of polished and rough diamonds from Israel, and imports of polished and rough diamonds to Israel and the rest of the world plummeted because of the financial crisis. However, there is indication of a slight rise in the final quarter of 2009 compared to the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 in all types of diamonds."



The US continues to be the main destination for gross exports of polished diamonds since the beginning of the year with 51%, Hong Kong 23%, Switzerland 9%, Belgium 7%, England 2%, other countries 8%.