Belgian Polished Exports Decline 3.6% On Year In Oct To $1.28B
November 16, 14
Exports of polished goods slipped by 3.6 percent on the year to $1.28 billion from $1.33 billion a year before, according to the AWDC figures. However, exports in volume terms last month dropped by 10.8 percent to 565,359 carats, from the figure of 633,771 carats in October 2013. Meanwhile, exports of rough diamonds in October fell by 19.3 percent to 9.65 million carats from 8.83 million carats a year earlier, and soared to $1.42 billion from $1.20 billion in October last year. In imports of rough diamonds in October, there was a rise of 19.2 percent to 6.92 million carats from 8.58 million carats last year, and dropped to $999.8 million from $1.12 billion in October 2013. Imports of polished diamonds in volume terms fell last month by 20.1 percent to 579,098 carats from 724,898 carats, and declined by 3.8 percent to $1.18 billion from $1.23 billion in October 2013. Belgium's leading export markets for its polished diamonds in financial terms in October were the United States, Hong Kong, Israel, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. Exports to the United States last month were by 1.3 percent lower at $435.7 million, and decreased in volume terms by 11.4 percent to 68,859 carats. Meanwhile, exports to Hong Kong in October dropped by 13.5 percent from a year earlier to $162.6 million, and decreased in volume terms by 17.5 percent to 92,214 carats.
