Belgian Polished Diamond Exports Surge 10% in January

(IDEX Online) – Belgian exports of polished diamonds surged 9.7 percent in January to $976.2 million, according to figures published by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).

Exports in volume terms last month rose 6.6 percent from January 2013 to 505,133 carats. The average price per carat climbed to $1,759 from $1,688 in January 2013.

Meanwhile, exports of rough diamonds in January increased by 17.7 percent to $1.24 billion, and by 22.3 percent to 9.74 million carats.

The average price per carat declined to $128 from $133 in January 2013.

In imports of rough diamonds in January, there was a rise 12.5 percent to 8.74 million carats, and a 21 percent jump to $1.35 billion.

The average price per carat edged up to $154 from $143 in January 2013.

Imports of polished diamonds in volume terms in January rose by 9.2 percent to 733,862 carats, and jumped by 13.8 percent to $1.29 billion.

The average price per carat, however, rose last month to $1,897 from $1,761 in January 2012.

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

Exports to the United States last month were $286.9 million, a 29.4 percent jump on the year, and 64,229 carats an increase of 12.7 percent.