2004

Israel's Exports Rise 15.1% In November

Jan. 2004

Net exports of polished diamonds from Israel increased 15.1% in November, to $518.5 million, from $450.4 million in November 2002, according to the Israel Ministry of Industry & Trade's Diamond Controller. Israel's net polished exports for the first 11 months of 2003, meanwhile, rose 4.5%, to reach $5.19 billion, compared to $4.96 billion in the same period last year.

Israel's imports of polished diamonds rose 61.2% in November to $342.7 million, compared to $212.5 million last year. Polished imports rose 42.5% from January to November to reach $2.97 billion, compared to $2.08 billion during the first eleven months of 2002.

Rough imports fell in November by 24.3% to $291.1 million, compared to $384.4 million in November 2002. For the first 11 months of the year rough imports dropped 4.4%, to $3.50 billion. Rough exports rose 92.9% in November to reach $ 217.1 million, rising from the beginning of the year by 41.1% to $2.04 billion.

The major export market for Israel's polished diamonds remained the United States.