Exporters: Sales down, but fall could've been worse.(exports of polished goods)(Brief...

POLISHED EXPORTS

While net polished diamond ports in January were down on the amount reported during the first month of last year, there were those who still breathed a sigh of relief. It could have been worse, they said.

Compared to January 2000, exports of polished goods during the first month of this year fell 13.4 percent in weight, from 484,189 carats to 419,870 carats, and 10 percent in value, from $517 million in January 2000 to $465.4 million.

"It shows that it is business as usual in the diamond market, and in particular in the United Sta