Israel's net polished exports up 15 percent in 2002. (Summing Up).

POLISHED EXPORTS

Israel's Ministry of Industry and Trade has announced the final export and import results of its diamond sector for 2002. According to data collected by the Office of the Diamond Controller, exports of polished diamonds--after returned goods had been accounted for--increased by 15 percent from the $4.5 billion worth reported in 2001, to stand at $5.2 billion.

Once again, in 2002 the United States was the overwhelmingly dominant export market for Israeli diamonds, purchasing 68 percent of the goods sold. It was followed by Hong Kong with a 12