Imports of diamonds to Hong Kong in the second quarter of 2013 increased by 6% in the year to $ 4.398 billion, reports Rapaport. According to data published by the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, polished exports increased 3% to $ 2.841 billion during the same period. Net imports of diamonds (the difference between imports and exports) increased 13% to $ 1.557 billion.
Imports of rough diamonds in Hong Kong in the reporting period fell by 12% to $ 491.48 million, and exports of diamonds rose 29% to $ 692.61 million. Net imports of diamonds decreased from $ 26.18 million last year to a negative value of $ 201.12 million for reporting quarter.
The net diamond account of Hong Kong for the second quarter (the difference between total imports and total exports of diamonds and diamonds) fell 4% to $ 1.355 billion.
In the first six months of 2013, polished imports to Hong Kong rose 5% to $ 8.884 billion, the organization said. Imports of diamonds from India increased by 17% to $ 4.21 billion, but imports from other major supplier countries declined. Imports from Israel declined 2% to $ 1.14 billion, while from Belgium - by 4% to $ 948.7 million, from China - by 6% to $ 522.4 million.
Exports of diamonds from Hong Kong for the half-year decreased by 4% to $ 5,803 billion.
At the same time, exports to India fell by 10% to $ 1.53 billion, and to China - by 9% to $ 911.6 million. Exports to Belgium grew by 1% to $ 826.9 million, and to Israel - by 6% up to $ 696.5 million.