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Belgium Polished Exports Rebound
May 27, 2021 3:55 AM
By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT... Belgium’s polished-diamond exports more than quadrupled year on year to $566 million in April, reflecting the comparison with the peak of the 2020 coronavirus crisis, according to data the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) released this week. Shipments were down versus March, however, as trading returned to more normal levels following a release of pent-up demand earlier in the year.
Belgium trade data for April 2021
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April 2021 |
Year-on-year change |
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| Polished exports |
$566M |
330% |
| Polished imports |
$569M |
499% |
| Net polished exports |
-$3M |
2020: Surplus of $37M |
| Rough imports |
$933M |
643% |
| Rough exports |
$829M |
2267% |
| Net rough imports |
$104M |
15% |
| Net diamond account |
-$106M |
Deficit increased 98% |
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| Polished exports by volume |
297,288 carats |
335% |
| Average price of polished exports |
$1,904/carat |
-1% |
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January-April 2021 |
Year-on-year change |
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| Polished exports |
$2.36B |
30% |
| Polished imports |
$2.38B |
23% |
| Net polished exports |
-$22M |
Deficit decreased 82% |
| Rough imports |
$3.33B |
48% |
| Rough exports |
$3.41B |
81% |
| Net rough imports |
-$86M |
2020: Surplus of $360M |
| Net diamond account |
$64M |
2020: Deficit of $481M |
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| Polished exports by volume |
1.2 million carats |
24% |
| Average price of polished exports |
$2,044/carat |
5% |
Sources: Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC); Rapaport archives.
About the data: Belgium is usually a net exporter of polished diamonds. As such, net polished exports — representing polished exports minus polished imports — will normally be a positive number. The nation has historically been a net importer of rough, though in recent years, it has often been a net rough exporter. While Antwerp is still home to some high-value manufacturing, its main role in the market is as a facilitator of rough-diamond trading, with companies from around the world coming to the city to buy rough. The net diamond account is total rough and polished exports minus total imports. It is Belgium’s diamond trade balance, and shows the added value the nation creates by exporting rough or manufacturing it into polished.
Image: The Antwerp skyline. (Shutterstock)
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Tags:
Antwerp World Diamond Centre, AWDC, Belgium, data, net diamond account, net polished exports, Net rough imports, polished, polished exports, polished imports, Rapaport News, rough, rough exports, rough imports
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