Figures released by the Ministry of Economy and Industry show that in the first half of 2021, Israel’s net polished diamond exports went up 71% year-on-year to $2.37 billion, IDEX Online reports. During the same period, imports increased 136% to $1.88 billion.
Net imports of rough diamonds increased 165% to $1.39 billion, while rough exports exploded by 177% to total $1.16 billion. Rough exports to the United Arab Emirates totaled about $11.5 million – almost 10% of its total rough exports.
Ofir Gur, director of Israel’s Diamond, Gems and Jewelry Administration, said of the figures: “There are good reasons to believe that the trend will continue at least until the end of the year.”
