Belgian Polished Exports Slip On Yr To $1.32B In May, But Up On Mth

(IDEX Online News) – Belgian exports of polished diamonds slipped by 1.3 percent in May to $1.26 billion from $1.27 billion a year before, according to figures published by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). However, they were up 22.1 percent on the month in May.

Exports in volume terms last month totaled 556,266 carats, down 12.8 from the figure of 637,899 carats in May 2013, but up 18.7 percent on April.

Meanwhile, exports of rough diamonds in May rose 8.7 percent to 9.47 million carats from 8.23 million carats a year earlier, and climbed 5.6 percent to $1.29 billion from $1.22 billion in May last year.

In imports of rough diamonds in March, there was a rise of 11.3 percent to 7.38 million carats from 6.63 million carats last year, and a 12.3 percent jump to $1.18 billion from $1.05 billion in May 2013.

Imports of polished diamonds in volume terms in May fell 23.3 percent to 512,502 carats from 668,517 carats, and dropped to $1.01 billion from $1.31 billion million in May 2013.

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

Exports to the United States in May soared 28.4 percent on a year earlier to $532.5 million, and increased by 13.1 percent in volume terms to 111,160 carats.

Similarly, exports to Hong Kong last month surged 21.1 percent higher on a year earlier to $170.1 million, and soared 21.5 percent in volume terms to 105,330 carats.