Belgium’s polished diamond exports rose 49 percent year on year to $528 million in August 2011, according to data published by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). By volume, exports grew 43 percent to 325,506.90 carats as the average price on the exports increased 4 percent to $1,622.04 per carat.

The polished exports grew to most of Belgium’s major destinations with the U.S. rising by 50 percent to $169.9 million. Polished exports to Hong Kong jumped 120 percent to $106.9 million, while to Israel, they rose 47 percent $60.8 million, and to Switzerland the exports increased by 127 percent to $44.8 million. Of the top five destinations, only exports to India declined during the month, by 10 percent to $33.3 million.  

Belgium’s polished imports grew 46 percent to $987.7 million. Net polished exports, representing exports less imports, fell 42 percent to a deficit of $459.7 million indicating that more polished goods entered the country than left.

Rough imports grew 54 percent in August to $1.2 billion with the average price of the imports up 64 percent to $166.21 per carat. Rough exports increased 18 percent to $655.6 million and net rough imports, or the excess of imports over exports, jumped 143 percent to $550.6 million.

Belgium’s net diamond account, representing total rough and polished exports less total imports, fell 54 percent to a deficit of $1.01 billion, indicating the net amount of goods that entered the country during the month.



During the first eight months of the year, polished exports rose 38 percent to $9.43 billion, while polished imports grew 39 percent to $9.06 billion. Net polished exports increased 23 percent to $375.1 million. Rough imports rose 52 percent to $9.68 billion and rough exports grew 42 percent to $10.25 billion. Net rough imports rose 35 percent to a deficit of $571.7 million.

Belgium’s net diamond account for the year to date fell 20 percent to $946.8 million.