Belgium’s Polished Diamond Exports Rise 31%
To $1.02 billion...Belgium’s polished diamond exports rose 31 percent year on year to $1.02 billion in December 2010, according to data published by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).
By volume, the exports increased 7 percent to 734,436.82 carats as the average price of polished exports rose 23 percent from one year ago to $1,388.83 per carat in December.
Polished imports to Belgium increased 25 percent to $800.4 million during the month. Net polished exports, representing the excess of exports over imports, grew 58 percent to $219.6 million.
Rough exports rose 34 percent to $1.14 billion, while rough imports increased 46 percent to $706.5 million. Net rough exports, the excess of exports over imports, grew 17 percent to $430.5 million.
Belgium’s December net diamond account, calculated as total rough and polished exports less total imports rose 28 percent to $650.1 million.
For the full year 2010, Belgium’s polished exports grew 29 percent to $11.1 billion. Exports to the U.S. increased 30 percent to $3.1 billion, while to Hong Kong they rose 37 percent to $2.53 billion. Belgium’s polished exports to Israel increased 41 percent to $1.21 billion, and to India they grew 52 percent to $832 million.
Total polished imports rose 30 percent to $10.32 billion, while net polished exports increased 14 percent to $783.2 million.
Rough exports for the year grew 48 percent to $10.99 billion while rough imports jumped 49 percent to $9.47 billion. Net rough rose 48 percent to $1.52 billion.
Belgium’s 2010 net diamond account increased 34 percent to $2.3 billion.
By: Avi Krawitz of RAPAPORT
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