|
|
Belgium Diamond Trade Slumps in June
Jul 12, 2016 7:21 AM
By Rapaport News
|
|
|
RAPAPORT... Belgium’s diamond trading declined in June, with imports and
exports of rough and polished falling in contrast with promising results in the
previous two months.
Polished exports slumped 17 percent to $1.15 billion,
according to the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. By volume, exports fell 9.9
percent to 502,314 carats, while the average price slid 8.3 percent to $2,280
per carat.
The overall plunge was largely driven by a 17-percent dive
in polished shipments to Hong Kong, Belgium’s second largest trade partner for
polished diamonds. Orders from the U.S., the largest partner, fell 4.7 percent.
Polished imports fell 12 percent to $1.22 billion, meaning
net polished exports declined to negative $78.9 million versus negative $13
million a year ago.
The results come after May data showed Belgium’s first
monthly increase in polished diamond exports in almost a year.
Rough imports declined 11 percent to $945.3 million and
rough exports slid 16 percent to $959.8 million, reversing a surge
in May. Net rough imports increased to negative $14.6 from negative $75.6 million
the previous year.
Belgium’s June net diamond account, representing total
polished and rough exports minus total imports, swung to negative $64.4 million
versus positive $62.7 million a year earlier.
During the first half of the year, polished exports fell 8.4
percent to $6.68 billion and polished imports dropped 9.5 percent to $6.46
billion. By contrast, rough trading improved during the six months, with
exports increasing 4.8 percent to $6.7 billion and imports nudging up 2.4
percent to $6.51 billion.
Belgium’s net diamond account for the first half more than
doubled to $419.1 million compared with $203.1 million a year ago.
“While the rough diamond market appears to be making a
cautious recovery as compared to last year, the polished diamond trade
continues to find it tough going,” the AWDC said in a statement. “The
significant monthly fluctuations demonstrate that it is too early to draw
far-reaching conclusions.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tags:
Antwerp, Antwerp World Diamond Centre, AWDC, Belgium, data, imports and exports, polished trading, Rapaport News, rough trade, rough trading, trade data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|