|
RAPAPORT... Belgium's polished diamond exports dropped 17.6 percent year on year to $997.9 million in December, according to the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. Polished diamond exports by volume fell 18.9 percent to 534,667.48 carats. Fortunately, polished imports plunged 29.4 percent to $774.8 million, leaving net exports of $223.1 million, which was nearly double from one year ago. Rough diamond imports jumped 12.7 percent in December to $929.8 million, however, rough exports surged 16.9 percent to $1.394 billion, creating an import deficit of $464.1 million, compared with a deficit of $367.6 million in December 2011. Belgium's net diamond account, representing total diamond exports, improved 43 percent year on year to $687.2 million during the month.  With the calendar year now closed, Belgium exported $13.211 billion worth of polished diamonds in 2012, a drop of 9.8 percent from 2011, while polished imports sank 8 percent to $12.905 billion. Rough imports during the year dropped 8.8 percent to $12.253 billion and rough exports fell 6.3 percent to $13.518 billion. Belgium's net diamond account for 2012, representing the difference between net exports and net imports, fell 1.2 percent year on year to $1.571 billion.
|