Belgian Polished Exports Down in April Due to Passover, Easter

(IDEX Online News) – Belgian exports of polished diamonds declined by 11.1 percent in April to $1.03 billion from $1.16 billion a year before, according to figures published by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).

Exports in volume terms last month totaled 468,777 carats, down 12.1 percent from the figure of 533,128 carats in April 2013.

"With the Passover and Easter holidays falling in April this year, the Antwerp diamond sector experienced a somewhat quieter month," the AWDC said in a statement. "Nevertheless, strong trade results marked the first four months of the year, which is especially evident when comparing the numbers these months with the first four months in 2013."

Meanwhile, exports of rough diamonds in April also dropped, down by 15.7 percent to 9.28 million carats from 11.0 million carats a year earlier, but slipped by just 2.5 percent to $1.49 billion from $1.53 billion in April last year.

In imports of rough diamonds in April, there was a drop of 12.2 percent to 7.84 million carats from 8.93 million carats last year, and a 6.7 percent decline to $1.33 billion from $1.42 billion in April 2013.

Imports of polished diamonds in volume terms in April edged down 9.9 percent to 526,489 carats, but increased by 21.2 percent to $1.22 billion from April 2013.

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

Exports to the United States last month edged up 0.7 percent on a year earlier to $313.9 million, but declined by 33.3 percent in volume terms to 53,909 carats.

Meanwhile, exports to Hong Kong last month jumped by 23.4 percent on a year earlier to $175.9 million, and rose by 14.8 percent in volume terms to 83,028 carats.

"Looking at the first four months of this year we can constitute that the 2014 trade kick-off surpassed that of 2013," the AWDC said.

"Both imports as well as export figures of polished diamonds increased in value, by 15.43 percent and 10.39 percent respectively. The rough figures are better across the board as compared to the first four months of 2013. In terms of volume, imports rose by 10.53 percent and exports by 11.31 percent while the value increased by 10.26 percent and 8.60 percent, respectively."