|
|
Belgium’s Polished Trade Improves
Sep 11, 2017 4:46 AM
By Rapaport News
|
|
|
RAPAPORT... Belgium’s polished-diamond exports recorded a rare month of
growth in August, even as other aspects of the Antwerp trade declined.
Outbound shipments of polished rose 7% to $425.7 million
year on year, according to figures the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC)
released last week. August was the third month out of the past 12 in which
polished exports increased, Rapaport records show.
By volume, polished exports jumped 30% to 225,310 carats,
while the average price fell 18% to $1,889 per carat.
Polished shipments to the US crept up 0.7% to $121.5
million, while exports to Israel increased 4% to $42.9 million. Supply to
Switzerland skyrocketed 84% to $71 million, outweighing a 10% drop in exports
to Hong Kong to $62.8 million.
Overall polished imports fell 3% to $629 million,
meaning net polished exports — calculated as exports minus imports — stood at
negative $203.3 million versus negative $249.6 million a year ago.
Rough imports slipped by almost 1% to $653.8 million, while
rough exports dropped 8% to $485.1 million. Net rough imports grew 31% to
$168.7 million.
Belgium’s net diamond account — total rough and polished
exports minus total imports — amounted to negative $372 million, versus
negative $378.9 million a year earlier.
In the first eight months, polished exports fell 7% to $7.5
billion, while polished imports dropped declined 6% to $7.4 billion. Net
polished exports contracted 57% to $65.8 million. Rough imports slid 12% to
$7.1 billion and rough exports decreased 2% to $8.2 billion, leaving net rough
imports at negative $1.1 billion, compared with negative $324.5 million a year
back.
The net diamond account for January to August jumped to
$1.17 billion versus $477.7 million in the same period a year before.
Image: Littleaom/Shutterstock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tags:
Antwerp, Antwerp World Diamond Centre, AWDC, Belgium, Belgium trade, polished exports, Rapaport News, trade data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|