In December 2008, polished diamond exports from India dropped by 21 percent, from December 2007 and amounted to USD 656.08 million. In terms of volume, the polished exports amounted to 2.279 million carats, with the average per carat value being $287.88.

For the period April-December 2008, export of cut and polished diamonds amounted to USD 10,283 million, increasing by 2.3 percent in value terms over the same period last year. In volume terms, export of cut and polished diamonds slipped by 1.35 percent to 308 lakh carats. India’s total exports of gem and jewellery in the said nine months of 2008 increased by almost 1 percent to USD 15088 million, and in rupee terms it increased by 9 percent to Rs.66250 crores. Its net export account for the period April to December 2008 amounted to USD 14,478 million, decreasing by almost 1 percent in terms of the dollar but increasing by 7.4 percent in Rupee terms.

Rough exports in the said period increased by 55 percent in dollar terms, as against the same period last year, amounting to USD 610 million. In volume terms, export of roughs increased by 34 percent over the nine months last year, amounting to 248 lakh carats. Exports of coloured gemstones was up by almost 11 percent to USD 204 million, but exports of other gemstones decreased by almost the same percentage as coloured gemstones increased and amounted to USD 155 million.

The exchange rate noted for 1 USD in the said period was Rs. 43.91.