For the first nine months of the year, polished exports to the US declined 1%, but rose by 22% to Hong Kong, 7% to Belgium, 96% to Switzerland and 10% to China. The major export markets for Israels polished diamonds in August were the United States with 54%, Hong Kong 21%, Belgium 7%, Switzerland 6% and China 2%.

Israel Diamond Institute Chairman Simcha Lustig said that he was quite satisfied with the increase in polished diamond exports during September. These figures are in line with our expectations. We are optimistic that this trend can be maintained throughout the year. Lustig noted that IDI is upgrading its marketing efforts in the United States, with the official opening next week of its representative office in New York. The office will provide assistance to Israeli diamantaires in the US markets, especially those who do not have their own presence there. In addition, the New York office will seek to develop new markets for Israeli goods outside the major cities.

Net imports of rough diamonds increased by 38.8% in September 2005, and totalled $618.2 million, as compared to $445.3 million in September 2004. During the first nine months of the year rough diamond imports increased by 6.8%, reaching $4.163 billion, as compared to $3.898 billion for the same period in 2004. Israels imports of polished diamonds increased 18.3% in September 2005, reaching $353.9 million, as compared to $299.2 million in the same month last year. From January to September net imports of polished diamonds rose 12.1% to $2.786 billion, up from $2.485 billion in the same period in 2004.

ISRAELS net polished diamond exports rose 24.1% in September 2005, according to statistics published by the Israel Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labours Diamond Controller, Shmuel Mordechai. Net polished diamond exports reached $704.0 million in September, compared to $567.4 million for the same month in 2004. Israels net polished diamond exports rose 6.6% during the first nine months of 2005, reaching $5.200 billion, as compared to $4.879 billion during the same period in 2004. Rough diamond exports from Israel continued to rise, increasing 67.1% in September 2005 to reach $354.6 million, compared to $212.2 million in the same period last year. From January to September they rose 26.9% to total $2.860 billion, as compared to $2.254 billion for the same period in 2004.