GJEPC figures show Indian polished diamond exports drop sharply in April-January

India's exports of polished goods fell by 7.3 percent last month compared with January last year to $1.69 billion, the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said in provisional figures.

There was an even sharper fall in the April-January period, however, with exports plummeting 33 percent on a year earlier to $13.2 billion.

Meanwhile, rough diamond exports climbed 13.1 percent to $173.4 million last month, but dropped 15.8 percent to $1.21 billion in April- January.

Imports of polished diamond slumped 39 percent to $597.7 million last month, while falling even further – by 69.4 percent to $3.98 billion in April-January.

Finally, there was an 11.1 percent decline in rough diamond imports to $986.4 million in January, although the fall for the April-January period was more moderate at 1.5 percent to $12.2 billion.