Israel’s net polished exports increased 48 per cent in 2010 to $5.8 billion from $3.9 billion a year earlier.
According to figures published by the Israel Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor, net rough diamond exports increased a hefty 62 per cent to $3.06 billion compared to $1.9 billion the previous year.
On the polished side of things, net import figures rose 68 per cent to $4.2 billion from $2.5 billion, while net rough imports increased 50.6 per cent to $3.8 billion from $2.5 billion in 2009.
“The Israeli diamond industry is proving its strength and flexibility,” said Moti Ganz, chair of the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI). “We are developing new markets—China and India—while continuing to promote our traditional ones. We can look forward to continued growth in 2011.”
The United States remains Israel’s largest export market with 41 per cent of total exports, followed by Hong Kong at 25 per cent, India at five per cent, Switzerland at four per cent, China at three per cent, and the rest of the world making up the remaining 22 per cent.
