Belgium's March Polished Diamond Exports +6%

Apr 10, 2012 6:14 AM By Avi Krawitz

Comment

Facebook

Twitter

RAPAPORT... Belgium’s polished diamond exports rose 6 percent year on year to $1.379 billion in March ‎‎2012, data from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) showed. By volume, the ‎exports fell 33 percent to 652,916.33 carats while the average price of the goods ‎increased 57 percent to $2,112.73 per carat.‎

Polished imports to Belgium dropped 3 percent to $1.303 billion. The country’s net polished ‎exports, representing the excess of exports over imports, rose to a surplus of $76.04 million from a deficit of $34.98 million one year ago.‎

Rough imports grew 7 percent to $1.364 billion in March and rough exports increased 8 ‎percent to $1.461 billion. Net rough imports, indicating the excess of rough imports less ‎exports, declined by 26 percent to a deficit of $97.39 million.‎

Belgium’s March net diamond account, representing total exports of polished and rough ‎less total imports, grew more than four-fold to $173.43 million.‎

During the first quarter, Belgium’s polished exports rose 4 percent to $3.572 billion. Exports ‎to the U.S. increased 6 percent to $918.3 million and to Hong Kong they fell 5 percent ‎to $747.1 million. Exports to Switzerland surged 38 percent to $498 million. ‎

Polished imports for the first three months of 2012 rose 16 percent year on year to $3.712 billion. Net polished exports fell into a deficit of ‎‎$140.5 million compared with a surplus of $230.2 million a year earlier.‎

Rough imports grew 3 percent to $3.480 billion during the quarter while rough exports ‎increased 2 percent to $3.608 billion. Net rough imports improved by 11 percent but remained in a deficit of $127.86 million.‎

Belgium’s first quarter net diamond account fell to a deficit of $12.64 million compared with a ‎surplus of $374.56 million in 2011.

Tags: Antwerp, Antwerp World Diamond Centre, Avi Krawitz, AWDC, Belgium, diamonds, Polished Diamonds, Rapaport, Rough Diamonds