In September 2009, polished diamond exports from the Americas dropped by 16.8 percent to $1 billion. Import of polished diamonds in the month amounted to $1.23 billion, decreasing by 23.4 percent. %% The export of rough diamonds in the said month fell by a whooping 45.2 percent to value at $17 million, while import of rough stones dipped by 53.2 percent to $22 million. %% In the period between January-September the export of polished diamonds showed a 40 percent drop amounting to $6.9 billion, and polished diamond imports dropped by 43.5 percent to $8.73 billion. In the same nine months, rough diamond imports decreased by 70 percent to $192 million, and rough exports dropped by 59 percent to $137 million.