Israel Publishes List of Top Polished Diamond Exporters

Ramat Gan, Israel, January 21, 2009: The annual list of Israel’s largest polished diamond exporters was published by the Israel Diamond Controller’s Office in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. Topping the list once again is L.L.D. Diamonds Ltd., owned by Lev Leviev, with exports of $417 million in 2008.

Second on the list of top exporters is Leo Schachter Ltd. with $352 million. In the third place is A. Dalumi Diamonds with $182 million.

In the fourth place is Espeka Diamonds International Ltd. with $159 million; after that is Yerushalmi Bros. with $150 million in exports in fifth place.

Next on the list are: A.A. Rachminov Ltd., sixth place, with $141 million in polished diamond exports; PDD Diamonds, seventh place with $121 million in exports; M.I.D. House of Diamonds Ltd., eighth place, at $111 million; Niru Diamonds Israel (1987) Ltd. in ninth place, with $91 million and SN Asia (Israel) Ltd. in tenth place with $86 million.

Israel Diamond Controller Shmuel Mordechai said that the net polished exports of the top 25 exporters totaled $2.567 billion, accounting for 41% of Israel’s total net polished diamonds. Mordechai added that the list of 25 does not include 17 companies, who chose not to publish their export figures.

All of the exporters listed above experienced a drop in their polished exports in 2008, reflecting the trend that was experienced throughout the industry. Israel’s total polished exports stood at $6.240 billion in 2008, a drop of 12% over 2007 when they totaled $7.075 billion.

Moti Ganz, Chairman of the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI) and President of the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association (IsDMA) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), said that despite the drop in exports this year, the Israeli Diamond Industry would maintain its leading position within the world industry.

“The world economic crisis is affecting all sectors, not only diamonds. The Israeli Diamond Industry is working hard to find ways to succeed in these difficult conditions. I am confident that we will see the fruits of these efforts in the near future.” Ganz noted that the major diamond exporters have made an important contribution to the Israeli Diamond Industry, as well as to Israel’s economy. However, he said, that the strength of Israel’s diamond industry is based on a broad spectrum of industry members – manufacturers, exporters and traders.

IDI Managing Director Eli Avidar said, “Especially in these trying times, IDI applauds the achievements of all of the industry’s exporters. IDI continues to put its resources to work in promoting exports in traditional and developing markets -- to the benefit of Israeli diamantaires large and small.”