The month’s exports and imports reflect optimism of the early months of 2011

In June 2011, Belgium’s polished diamond exports valued $1.51 billion rising 38.3 percent y-o-y and the volume of the said exports rose 21.6 percent y-o-y to 827,860 carats. Exports of rough diamonds in the said month valued $1.61 billion rising 34.4 percent and in volume terms there was a drop of 13.3 percent to 11.8 million carats.

The imports of polished diamonds touched 910,347 carats in June 2011, which was a 36.9 percent increase y-o-y and in value terms the said imports touched $1.48 billion, rising 39.1 percent. Rough diamond imports into Belgium in the month stood at 8.99 million carats, rising 7.7 percent y-o-y and in value terms increasing 60.1 percent to $1.42 billion.

according to the Antwerp World Diamond Centre's Diamond Office (AWDC), the exports and import figures in June 2011 indicate that the month continues with the same upward trend of the first months of the 2011, with significantly higher exports on the same period of last year. Also, there is a willingness to pay ever increasing prices for goods, with prices rising on lower amounts of goods in carat terms.

Between January – June 2011, Belgium exported polished diamonds worth $7.34 billion an increase of 37.3 percent y-o-y and exported rough diamonds worth $7.74 billion an increase of 36.2 percent y-o-y. The imports of polished diamonds in the six months valued $6.89 billion an jump of 36.8 percent y-o-y and rough diamonds worth $7.06 billion an increase of 44.3 percent y-o-y.