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RAPAPORT... Belgium's polished diamond exports in June rose 3.2 percent year on year to $1.363 billion, according to data released by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. In terms of volume, exports were essentially flat, edging up 0.7 percent to 641,674 carats. Polished imports fell 2.3 percent to $1.438 billion, leaving a net export deficit of $75 million, compared with a deficit of $151 million in June 2012. Rough diamond imports jumped 17.2 percent to $1.084 billion and rough exports surged 17.4 percent to $1.261 billion. Belgium registered a net rough import deficit of $177 million, which was up from a deficit of $149 million one year ago. For the month of June, Belgium's net diamond account, reflecting the difference between net exports and net imports, rose to $102 million from a deficit of $2 million in 2012. During the first half of 2013, Belgium's polished exports increased 5.6 percent to $7.141 billion, while polished imports declined 2.3 percent to $6.979 billion, leaving net polished exports of $162 million. Rough imports rose 7.2 percent to $7.013 billion, but rough exports increased 8 percent to $7.594, leaving a net rough import deficit of $581 million. The net diamond account for the first half of the year jumped to $743 million from $357 million one year ago.
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