Belgium Polished Diamond Exports Weak in August

Polished diamond exports from Belgium totaled $404.7 million in August, tumbling 15.81 percent year-over-year, according to data released by the AWDC Diamond Office. In volume, exports declined 27.79 percent to 292,438 carats. The drop in gross exports coincides with a leap in gross imports of polished diamonds.

Belgium imported 770,178 carats worth $929.25 million - a 3.44 percent decline in volume and 31.2 percent jump in value. The August trading figures may be partially explained by large shipments of goods returning from the IIJS trade show in India earlier in the month.

Year to date figures show a very different situation. Exports rose 22.23 percent to $8.399 billion compared to the previous year period, while imports grew 27.78 percent to $8.289 billion.