Latest News

Hong Kong Diamond Imports Show Mild Recovery

November 16, 2022  |  Joshua Freedman
Hong Kong at night credit Shutterstock

Hong Kong’s polished-diamond imports increased 4% year on year to $3.84 billion in the third quarter of 2022, according to Rapaport calculations based on recent data from the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, China. The local retail market improved during the period as the government eased Covid-19 rules. However, demand from the mainland — for which Hong Kong is a trading hub — remained weak.

Hong Kong Trade Data for 3Q 2022

 July-September 2022Year-on-year change
   
Polished imports$3.84B4%
Polished exports$3.66B15%
Net polished imports$180M-65%
Rough imports$270M-8%
Rough exports$323M28%
Net rough imports-$52M2021: Surplus of $43M
Net diamond account$127M-77%
   
Polished imports: volume4 million carats-16%
Average price of polished imports$960/carat24%
   
 January-September 2022Year-on-year change
   
Polished imports$11.1B2%
Polished exports$10.01B4%
Net polished imports$1.08B-14%
Rough imports$737M0%
Rough exports$857M9%
Net rough imports-$120MDeficit increased 159%
Net diamond account$962M-20%
   
Polished imports: volume11.5 million carats-12%
Average price of polished imports$969/carat16%

Third-quarter figures are Rapaport calculations based on first-half and nine-month data from the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, China.

Sources: Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, China, Rapaport calculations and archives.

About the data: As an important consumer market and gateway to China, Hong Kong is a net importer of polished diamonds. As such, net polished imports — representing polished imports minus polished exports — will usually be a positive number. Net rough imports — calculated as rough imports minus rough exports — will also generally be in surplus. Hong Kong has no operational diamond mines but has a manufacturing sector, so it should normally ship more rough in than out. The net diamond account is total rough and polished imports minus total exports. It is Hong Kong’s diamond trade balance, and shows the added value the city creates by importing — and ultimately consuming — diamonds.

Image: Hong Kong at night. (Shutterstock)

Share

Hong Kong at night credit Shutterstock Hong Kong Diamond Imports Show Mild Recovery

Share with others

Search

Date