Exports in volume terms last month totaled 557,816 carats, down 13.1 from the figure of 641,713 carats in June 2013.

 

For the first half of this year, exports fell 5.8 percent to 3.28 million carats from 3.45 million carats in the same period last year, but rose by 6.3 percent surge to $7.57 billion from $7.12 billion in June 2013.

 

Meanwhile, exports of rough diamonds in June surged 27.4 percent to 10.23 million carats from 8.03 million carats a year earlier, and climbed 5.0 percent to $1.32 billion from $1.26 billion in June last year.

 

In imports of rough diamonds in June, there was a jump of 27.3 percent to 7.93 million carats from 6.54 million carats last year, and a 20.0 percent surge to $1.30 billion from $1.08 billion in June 2013.

 

Imports of polished diamonds in volume terms in June fell 10.4 percent to 675,925 carats from 754,233 carats, but increased by 5.0 percent $1.51 billion from $1.44 billion million in June 2013.

 

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

 

Exports to the United States in the half-year period inched up 0.1 percent on a year earlier to $2.02 billion, but decreased by 12.5 percent in volume terms to 409,061carats.

 

Meanwhile, exports to Hong Kong last month surged 13.2 percent higher on a year earlier to $1.91 billion, and increased by 2.8 percent in volume terms to 767,400 carats.

 

“The June trade figures of the Antwerp diamond sector are positive, both in terms of import and export of rough diamonds,” the AWDC said in a statement. “As concerns trade in polished diamonds, we note that less but more expensive goods were traded last month, in comparison with June 2013.

 

“The rough diamond trade figures in June follow the positive trend of the last months. Both import and export figures continue to be strong.”

 

In polished imports, the AWDC said the figures “point to the fact that fewer but more expensive stones were brought onto the market. Most of these more valuable stones came from Hong Kong, India and Israel. We see the opposite trend for stones coming in from the US; the volume of stones was higher while the value was lower. The volume jump was the result of the JCK Show in Las Vegas, which facilitated peak trade activity within the US. Finally, on the import side, a rise in polished diamonds from Russia was also apparent, demonstrating that Antwerp purchased more goods on the Russian market this June as compared to the same month last year.

 

“As regards exports of polished diamonds, the value figures were steady, with a decline in traded volume. Also here we note trade in more expensive stones, which left for Hong Kong and Israel. As with the import figures, we see the opposite phenomenon when it comes to the US, to which fewer and less expensive stones were exported. The notable surge in exports of polished diamonds to India and China is a consequence of the significant decline of exports to both countries in June of last year. Currently, we are seeing a resurgence of goods heading to these markets.