Belgium Polished Exports Rise

RAPAPORT… Belgium’s polished-diamond exports rose in May, according to
data from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).



Polished exports increased 5% year on year to $1.18 billion
and, by volume, grew 4% to 439,380 carats. The average price climbed 1% to
$2,688 per carat.


The jump was mainly due to a 6% rise in shipments to the US
to $438.8 million and a 22% surge in exports to India to $58.6 million. Exports
to Switzerland more than doubled in May, reaching $186.1 million. Those
increases outweighed a 46% plunge in exports to the United Arab Emirates to
$46.1 million and a 17% drop in shipments to Hong Kong to $130 million.


Polished imports fell 1% to $995.8 million, while net
polished exports — the excess of exports over imports — surged 53% to $185.3
million.


Rough imports dropped 14% to $905.2 million, with rough
exports falling 5% to $1.18 billion. Net rough imports stood at negative $278.9
million versus negative $188 million a year ago.


The country’s net diamond account — the sum of rough and
polished exports minus total imports — rose 50% to $464.2 million.



In the first five months of the year, polished exports rose
1% to $5.09 billion, while rough imports climbed 8% to $5.02 billion.


Image: AWDC