In the fourth quarter of 2010, Hong Kong’s rough and polished diamond trade rose by an average of one third, over levels in Q4 of 2009. Imports of polished diamonds in value terms increased 31 percent (y-o-y) to $3.49 billion, and in volume terms by 15 percent to 7.289 million carats. The average price of diamond imports rose 14 percent to $478.86 per carat. Value of polished diamond exports rose 33 percent to $2.7 billion. The net polished imports (valued as the excess of imports over exports) stood at $786 million, rising 27 percent.

Rough diamond exports increased by 30 percent to $295.9 million and imports by 32 percent to $305.3 million. The country’s net rough imports (valued as excess of imports over exports) was $9.3 million ($2.7 million in Q4 of 2009).

The net diamond account (total polished and rough imports less total exports) increased 28 percent to $795.3 million.

The country’s polished imports in the year 2010 rose 39 percent to $13.51 billion and exports by 41 percent to $10 billion. Rough diamond imports increased by a smaller grew 19 percent to $1.14 billion and exports also rose in the similar range of 17 percent to $1.13 billion. In 2010, net diamond account grew 37 percent to $3.51 billion.