US CUT DIAMOND EXPORTS UP IN '90

Loose cut diamond exports were headed for a banner year last year, according to the American Diamond Industry Association. In the first nine months of 1990, exports totaled $1.05 billion - approaching the $1.17 billion total for the entire previous year. Through September 1990, United States merchants had shipped 727,584 carats of diamonds to overseas buyers, compared to 778,548 carats in 1989.

The top five markets for the US diamonds are Hong Kong, Japan, Belgium, Israel, and Switzerland, in that order.