Belgium's July Exports of Polished Diamonds Show Small Rise on Year

(IDEX Online News) – Belgian exports of polished diamonds rose in July to $1.32 billion from $1.25 billion a year earlier, according to figures published by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). However, they were down 3.0 percent on the June figure.

Meanwhile, exports in volume terms last month totaled 696,684 carats compared with 702,220 carats in July 2012, and were 8.6 percent higher on the previous month. The average price per carat jumped to $1,898 from $1,783 in July 2012, but was down 10.6 percent on June.

Meanwhile, exports of rough diamonds in July jumped to 11.96 million carats from 9.72 million carats a year earlier, and rose to $1.54 billion from $1.23 billion in July last year. Exports in July soared 49.0 percent in volume terms on the June figure, and 22.2 percent higher in dollar terms. The average price per carat was almost unchanged at $129 from $127 in July 2012, and was down 17.8 percent on June.

In imports of rough diamonds in July, there was a rise to 7.05 million carats from 6.35 million carats last year, and a rise on a month earlier of 7.9 percent, while rising to $1.02 billion from $785.0 million in 2012. Imports were 5.9 percent down on the month in financial terms. The average price per carat climbed to $145 from $134 in July 2012, but was down 12.7 percent on the June figure.

Imports of polished diamonds in volume terms in July rose to 554,546 carats from 524,233 carats, but slipped to $940.4 million from $942.7 million in July 2012.

The average price per carat fell substantially last month – down to $1,696 from $1,798 in July 2012, and dropped 11.0 percent on the month-earlier figure.

Belgium's leading export markets for its polished diamonds in financial terms in July were the United States, Hong Kong, Israel, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates.

Exports to the United States last month were $435.8 million from $364.4 million last year, and 93,379 carats from 133,103 carats.

Exports to Hong Kong last month were $233.3 million from $211.2 million last year, and 144,791 carats in July from 146,358 carats in July 2012.