Antwerp Polished Exports Up Year-Over-Year in May

Meanwhile, exports in volume terms last month totaled 637,827 carats compared with 666,613 carats in May 2012, and surged 19.6 percent higher on the previous month. The average price per carat jumped to $1,993 from $1,771 in May 2012, but was down 8.2 percent on April.

Meanwhile, exports of rough diamonds in May jumped to 8.23 million carats from 7.31 million carats a year earlier, and rose to $1.22 billion from $1.15 billion in May last year. Exports in May were down 25.3 percent in volume terms on the April figure, and 20.1 percent lower in dollar terms. The average price per carat declined to $148 from $157 in May 2012, and was 6.5 percent up on April.

In imports of rough diamonds in May, there was a decline to 6.62 million carats from 6.86 million carats last year, and a fall on a month earlier of 25.8 percent, while decreasing to $1.05 billion from $1.11 billion in 2012. Imports were 26.1 percent down on the month in financial terms. The average price per carat edged down to $159 from $162 in May 2012, and was unchanged with the April figure.

Imports of polished diamonds were mostly up, both compared with May 2012 and with April this year.

In volume terms, there was a decline to 668,527 carats from 680,278 carats, but a rise to $1.31 billion from $1.03 billion in May 2012. Compared with April, there were rises of 14.4 percent and 30.1 percent, respectively, in carat and financial terms.

The average price per carat rose substantially last month – up to $1,965 from $1,509 in May 2012, and jumped 13.8 percent on the month-earlier figure.

Belgium's leading export markets for its polished diamonds in May were the United States, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Exports to the United States last month were $521.7 million from $494.0 million last year, and 112,154 carats from 197,980 carats.

Exports to Hong Kong were $94.6 million from $125.4 million last year, and 94,576 carats in May from 125,396 carats in May 2012.