Jewelry exports up 52% through May – Brazil
Published: Thursday, July 13, 2006 17:09 (GMT -0400)
BNamericas, Chile
Brazil’s jewelry shipments abroad in the first five months of this year reached a value of US$435mn, up 52% from US$286mn in the year-ago period, a press official with the country’s gems and jewelry trade association IBGM told BNamericas via email.
Exports include uncut and cut gems.
Shipments abroad of gold bars, threads and plates in the January-May period of 2006 amounted to US$239mn, a 76% increase compared to US$136mn in the same period of last year.
Brazil’s jewelry exports are expected to reach US$1bn this year compared to US$834mn in 2005, BNamericas previously reported.
IBGM is a non-profit organization founded in 1977 and represents the entire production chain of Brazil’s gems and jewelry industry.
Jewelry accounted for the vast majority of gold consumption worldwide in 2005, at nearly 2,712t (some 87Moz) of 3,727t total of the end-use gold demand, according to figures on the World Gold Council website. End-use consumption excludes central bank demand.
By Roberta Pregnaca
BNamericas.com
