Russia’s uncut diamond exports up 17% on year in Jan–Sep

MOSCOW, Dec 2 (PRIME) -- Russia’s uncut diamond exports increased 17% on the year to 35.76 million carats in January–September, the Finance Ministry said in a report obtained by PRIME Friday.

In monetary terms, diamond exports rose 38.9% on the year to U.S. $3 billion.

Uncut diamond imports surged to 140,740 carats from about 29,000 carats in the same period of 2010, while in monetary terms, diamond imports fell 20.2% to $40.721 million.

In 2010, Russia’s uncut diamond exports almost tripled to 40.4 million carats from 14.7 million carats in 2009, while in monetary terms, diamond exports surged to $2.781 billion from $1.230 billion.

Diamonds monopoly Alrosa accounts for about 99% of Russia’s output.

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