Antwerp Polished Diamond Exports $599.44 million in April

Belgium exported $599.44 million worth of polished diamonds a 45.7 percent year-over-year decline. In volume, the country exported 576,076 carats, a 28.6 percent fall.

The decline in exports reflects weaker trade, as well as a decline in polished diamond prices, estimated by IDEX Online Research at about 4 percent from April 2008.

Exports to the U.S. fell 40.3 percent in value to $158.81 million with an average per carat value of $1,966.35. Exports to Hong Kong, Belgium’s second leading export destination, fell 18.6 percent to $88 million, averaging $1,013.50 p/c. Exports to the UAE stood at $69.63 million.

Imports totaled $668.09 million on shipments of 669,696 carats of goods, an average of $997.60 p/c. these imports, though declining 42.7 percent by value and 27.9 percent, created a surplus of 93,621 carats worth $68.65 million in the trading center.