Japan recorded low jewellery imports during the first half of 2007. Its gold jewellery imports dipped 5.9% to $383.49 million, and platinum jewellery declined by 2.5% to $207.57 million. Japan received low supplies from its major polished diamond suppliers, resulting in a decline of 16.4% in value, while volume dipped to $460 million and 1.127 million carats, respectively. The average diamond value was $408 per carat.

China however, more than quadrupled its exports to Japan, in the year-to-date at $10.9 million, with an average value of $718 per carat. For the month of June, Japan imported 153,670 carats of polished diamonds worth $72.98 million, averaging $475 a carat, a low of 10.7% in value and 23.6% lower in volume compared to June 2006.

According to The J Club, in the cumulative year, Japan received low supplies from its three major exporters. India’s dipped its supplies by 21.7% to $188.75 million and declined 22.6% to 791,986 carats, averaging $238.33 per carat. Belgium reduced supplies by 18.5% to $106.08 million, with an average value of $1,072.94 per carat, while Israel’s exports were worth $63.45 million, down 4.8% from a year ago. The average value of imports was $1,258 per carat.