The net imports of polished diamond by the United States in January totaled $362.78 million, a 28.5% increase compared to January 2009, IDEX online reported.

Gross polished diamond imports by the US totaled $1.27 billion, a 68.7% year-over-year increase. The gross volume of polished diamond imports added 61.5% in January, reaching 1.08 million carats.

Israel was the US' leading polished diamonds supplier in January, with a net of $298.34 million. India followed with $180.64 million worth of polished diamonds, South Africa ranked third ($50.76 million) and Belgium ranked fourth ($44 million).

The United States exported 2.09 million carats of polished diamonds in January, totaling $910.98 million in value.