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RAPAPORT... Belgium's polished diamond exports in June fell 12.5 percent year on year to $1.321 billion, according to data released by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. In terms of volume, exports plunged 23 percent to 637,452 carats. Polished imports were flat at $1.472 billion, therefore, net polished exports recorded a deficit of $151 million compared with a surplus of $32 million in June 2011. Rough diamond imports fell 34.8 percent to $925 million while rough exports dropped 33.4 percent to $1.074 billion, leaving a rough deficit of $149 million compared with a deficit of $196 million one year ago. Belgium's net diamond account for June, reflecting the difference between net polished exports and net rough imports, recorded a deficit of $2 million compared with a surplus of $228 million in June 2011. During the first six months of 2012, Belgium exported $7.016 billion worth of polished diamonds, a drop of 4.5 percent year-on-year, while imports rose 3.7 percent to $7.143 billion. Rough imports fell 7.3 percent to $6.545 billion and exports dropped 9.2 percent to $7.029 billion. Belgium's net diamond account for the first six months fell to $357 million from $1.132 billion one year ago.
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