Belarus triples rough diamond imports in 2010
MINSK. Jan 31 (Interfax) - Belarus tripled rough diamond imports to 113,700 carats in 2010, the Finance Ministry told Interfax.
The diamonds were imported in keeping with Kimberley Process regulations. The country registered 53 Kimberley Process certificates to import rough diamonds from Russia, Belgium and Israel.
The imports soared 5.6-fold in value to $48.8 million.
Belarus exported 40,700 carats of rough diamonds last year, 4.6 times more than in 2009. The exports rose 11.5-fold in value to $12.7 million. The diamonds were exported under 16 Kimberley Process certificates.
Belarus does not mine diamonds. The Finance Ministry said rough diamond imports and exports had increased as turnover by the country's Kristall cutting plant in Gomel grew and the world diamond market recovered after the crisis. Also, not all of the diamonds imported can be cut and polished effectively at Kristall and some of them are sold on to other countries.
Kristall exports over 90% of its cut and polished diamonds to the United States, Belgium, Israel and Southeast Asia.
Belarus imported 38,300 carats of uncut diamonds in 2009, down 61% from 2008. The imports fell 74.4% in value to $8.76 million.