Antwerp's rough diamond exports in February soared by 164.3%, compared to the same month last year to 10.8 million carats, according to figures released by the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC).

By value, rough exports rose 162.2% to $904.0 million.

Rough diamond imports rose 182% by value to $781.7 million by value and 150.02% to 10.5 million carats by volume.

Polished exports in February rose 1% to $875.3 million in value and 15.4% to 582,934 carats by volume.

Polished diamond imports rose 21.6% to $662.9 million. By value imports were up 15.3% at 573,146 carats in February.

As for export destinations, the United States posted an 18.9% fall in polished diamonds by value, but a 62.8% jump in volume, indicating a sharp rise in price per carat, AWDC said.

Overall, the US accounted for 11.9% of Belgium's polished diamonds in carat terms, and 29.6% in dollars. Hong Kong was the second-largest importer of Belgian polished stones last month, accounting for 20.5% in carats, and 19.9% in dollar terms.

Israel was the third largest importer of Belgian diamonds, followed by the UAE, Switzerland, India, China, the UK, Italy and France.