Beijing: China’s polished diamond imports increased 4.9 percent to $7.02 billion last year, according to data from the China Customs Information Center.

By weight, polished imports increased 1.2 percent to 7.7 million carats, while the average price rose 3.7 percent to $916 per carat, the figures showed.

Polished exports fell 11 percent to $1.91 billion, meaning net polished imports jumped 12 percent to $5.12 billion.

While rough exports increased 11 percent to $30 million, rough imports slid 13 percent to $666 million, pushing net rough imports down 14 percent to $635 million.

China’s net diamond account, representing total imports minus total exports, increased 9 percent to $5.75 billion.