The Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America (DMIA) and the United States Kimberley Process Authority (USKPA) are to conduct a joint research project to study the trade in rough diamonds in the United States.
The study will educate the members of both associations about the activity and nature of US imports and exports of rough diamonds.
The plan is to better serve industry by gathering hard data about the trade in rough diamonds to better understand the market forces driving rough diamond imports and exports.
The scope of the research will include information about market trends, valuation, import and export flows as well as sources.
The research project will be conducted by USKPA Directors Dr. Martin Hochbaum and Cecilia Gardner, along with Jeffrey Fischer, representing the DMIA.
“Cooperation from the rough diamond industry to assist in this research project will be key to its success”, said Ronnie VanderLinden, President of DMIA. “All members of DMIA are urged to cooperate when contacted by the research team.”
In September, industry analyst Chaim Even-Zohar published an exhaustive article on rough trading in the United States which he called the rough ”diamond laundromat of choice” which was published in IDEX Magazine.
