Russia’s rough diamonds exports in the fourth quarter of 2015 at 7.556 million carats, decreased by nearly 30% compared to the final quarter of 2014, according to a report on Rough Polished based on figures published by the Ministry of Finance. In terms of value exports fell by 38.6% to $727 million.
Russian diamond imports, at 16,870 carats marked an increase of 61.7% compared to a year earlier, while in value terms imports increased by 18.5% to $41.8 million, notes Rough Polished.
Russian diamond exports to Belgium, at 5.126 million carats worth US$410.325 million, accounted for more than two thirds of Russian diamond exports and were down 23% in terms of carats and 42% in terms of value from a year earlier. Other significant buyers of Russian diamonds were India, which acquired 1.281 million carats worth US$139.247 million, marking a decrease of 26% in terms of carats and a decrease of 14.5% in value terms, and the United Arab Emirates, which imported 611,142 carats worth $44 million, marking a decrease of 7.8%% in terms of carats and a decrease of 27.8% in terms of dollars.
Belarus exported 5,624 carats of diamonds to Russia, while the United Arab Emirates exported 3,298 carats to Russia.
