BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

13/05/2008

Belarus imports 46% more diamonds in Q1

MINSK. May 13 (Interfax) - Belarus imported 24,422.52 carats of natural rough diamonds in the first quarter of 2008, 46.2% more than in the same period last year, a source at the Finance Ministry told Interfax.

Rough diamond imports by value jumped 120% to $7.7 million.

Belarus increased exports of natural rough diamonds by volume by 130% in the quarter, to 1,210.9 carats worth $19,000.

Belarus imported rough diamonds from Belgium and Israel, and exported to the United States and Belgium.

Rough diamond imports jumped 41.1% in 2007, to 87,863.64 carats, growing in value by 51% to $25.4 million. Exports of rough diamonds rose 2.3% in volume, to 2,861.25 carats, but fell 8.8% in value, to $26,900.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/392669/news.aspx

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