Lan Dai

Though July is not a busy season for diamond consumption, the diamond trading volume on the Shanghai Diamond Exchange saw a month on month increase of 105% to 5.3516 million karats, while the diamond transaction value registered a month-on-month increase of 18.4% to US$161 million, according to statistics released by the exchange.

Of the total, imports via general trade increased 27.5% month on month and 45.1% year on year to 89,400 karats, of which finished diamond imports increased 49.7% year on year to 85,500 karats, while crude diamond and diamond powder imports amounted to 900 karats and 3,000 karats respectively. The import value totaled US$80.3254 million, up 22.3% month on month and 54.3% year on year, of which finished diamond accounted for US$79.9101 million, up 53.5% on year, crude diamond accounted for US$409,900, and diamond power accounted for US$5,400.

Exports via general trade fell sharply. In July, the exports amounted to 5.1834 million karats, down 89.3% on year, while their value came to US$496,100, down 87.3% on year. Meanwhile, bonded trading of the diamond exchange kept active, with 64 deals recorded in July, involving a volume of 7,200 karats and a value of US$8.6105 million, up 52.4% on year.