Belgium Net Polished Diamond Exports +20.3% to $187M
June 10, 10
Belgium exported $920.5 million worth of polished diamonds in May, a 39 percent year-over-year increase, according to data released by the AWDC. The volume of exports, 629,985 carats, were a minute 4 percent increase, mostly the result of rising prices, but possibly a growing interest in higher-end goods.
The average per carat price of exports stood at $1,461.11, up 33.6 percent compared to May 2009.
Polished diamond imports were also on the rise, totaling $733.5 million on shipments of 612,563 carats. Exports increased 44.7 percent and 3.3 percent respectively.
Net exports climbed 20.3 percent to $187 million, while the volume of net exports leaped 39.4 percent to 17,422 carats.
The U.S. was the leading destination of net exports, $190.7 million averaging $3,415.48 p/c, followed by Switzerland with 34.6 million in exports ($1,825.13 p/c), and Hong Kong ($32.3 million, $966.36 p/c).