| Israel's rough diamond exports during the first quarter of 2016 rose by 26.7 percent compared with Q1 2015, reaching 3 million carats, reports the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI). The value of exports for the period was US$684.5 million, a small decrease of 1.7 percent compared with the similar 2015 period. Rough diamond imports increased slightly in carat terms during Q1 2016, to reach 2,182,635.97 carats, while in terms of value there was a decrease of 8.3 percent, according to data presented by the IDI. Both polished diamond imports and polished exports during the quarter recorded a decline in terms of carats and value of between 11.3 percent and 16.6 percent says the IDI. The United States remained the main destination of polished diamond exports from Israel with just under US$500,000 worth of diamonds in the first quarter of 2016. Polished diamond exports to Switzerland, the second main destination for Israeli polished diamond exports, increased in terms of value to US$173 million during the quarter. |