Belgium’s Polished Exports Fly High in November

The value of polished diamond exports from Belgium leaped a surprising 16.53 percent in November to $753,376,910 on shipments of 821,107 carats as last minute holiday orders are delivered to clients.

Polished exports to the U.S. continued to grow in value while falling back sharply in weight, continuing a trend seen since the start of the year. Exports to the U.S. totaled $276,731,659, up 9.86 percent, for 149,014 carats, a 21.89 percent decline.

Exports rose sharply, both in value and weight, with major trading partners Israel and the UAE - the first a trading center the second also a growing consumer market.

Exports to Israel rose 27.82 percent in value to $114,814,534 while leaping 65.85 percent in weight to 106,906 carats. Exports to the UAE totaled $95,877,911 a 123.04 percent rise over November 2004, on shipments of 55,476 carats, a 47.69 percent increase.

Interestingly, polished diamond exports to Hong Kong, Antwerp’s second most important trading partner, softened in value 3.2 percent to $104,094,115 while falling 31.83 percent to 88,955 carats.

Since the start of the year, Antwerp exported 8,754,897 carats worth $8,207,513,740; a 2.62 percent decrease in weight and a 9.73 percent increase in value.

Polished diamond imports during the month stood at $877,915,206 on imports of 835,913 carats, up 4.6 percent in value and down 11.09 percent in volume.