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RAPAPORT... Belgium's polished diamond exports increased 2.5 percent year on year to $1.086 billion in December, according to data provided by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. By volume, exports dropped 8.3 percent to 512,830 carats. Polished imports rose 6.2 percent to $922.7 million, leaving net exports 14.3 percent lower at $163.3 million. Rough diamond imports fell 4.8 percent to $1.032 billion in December, while rough exports decreased 8.9 percent to $1.217 billion, leaving net imports with a deficit of $184.4 million, compared with a deficit of $250.4 million one year earlier. The next diamond account, reflecting the difference between net imports and exports, fell 21.1 percent to $347.7 million. During 2014, Belgium's polished exports improved 3.9 percent year on year to $14.417 billion, while polished imports rose 4 percent to $13.817 billion, leaving net exports 1.6 percent higher at $600.1 million. Rough imports jumped 12.7 percent to $14.911 billion, while rough exports rose 7 percent to $15.656 billion, leaving net imports down 46.7 percent to a deficit of $744.8 million. Belgium's net diamond account for 2014 dropped 32.3 percent year on year to $1.345 billion.
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