Belgian Polished Exports Down On Year In August

(IDEX Online News) – Belgian exports of polished diamonds in August fell 11.7 percent on the year to $483 million from $548.1 million a year before, according to figures published by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).

Exports in volume terms last month fell 14.5 percent to 221,834 carats, from the figure of 259,478 carats in August 2013.

Meanwhile, exports of rough diamonds in August soared by 31.4 percent to 4.74 million carats from 3.60 million carats a year earlier, and climbed to $674.5 million from $496.5 million in August last year.

In imports of rough diamonds in August, there was a rise of 15.9 percent to 6.75 million carats from 5.83 million carats last year, and a rise to $1.09 billion from $842.3 million in August 2013.

Imports of polished diamonds in volume terms edged down last month by 3.2 percent to 501,885 carats from 518,689 carats, and decreased to $833.3 million from $895.6 million in August 2013.

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

Exports to the United States in August surged by 15.6 percent from a year earlier to $154.9 million, and increased in volume terms by 12.8 percent to 38,588 carats.

Meanwhile, exports to Hong Kong last month were by 5.6 percent higher at $94.5 million, but decreased in volume terms by 10.5 percent to 57,368 carats.