Net Belgium Polished Diamond Exports Rise 28% in May (Updated)
June 10, 09
Belgium’s gross polished diamond exports in May totaled $662.43 million, declining 39.9 percent year-over-year, while gross imports of $506.86 million fell 48.3 percent. Net exports stood at $155.57 million, a 27.7 percent year-over-year increase.
The average value of gross exports declined 21.3 percent to $1,093.81 per carat on shipments of 605,611 carats. Imports of 593,099.5 carats averaged $854.59 p/c. Net exports by volume were a low 12,511.58 carats, averaging an exceptionally high $12,434 p/c.
Exports to the U.S. sank 38.7 percent to $253.83 million averaging $2,384.63 p/c as the volume of these exports declined 26.4 percent.
Exports to Hong Kong fell 13.4 percent to $86.48 million averaging $626.95 p/c. While exports decreased in value compared to May 2008, the volume of exports rose a sharp 56 percent.
Exports of 42,319 carats to Israel were valued at $74.016 million, falling 29.5 percent and 53.6 percent respectively.
(Last update Thursday June 11, 2009 4:16 am)