Antwerp’s polished diamond exports drop 12% in March

Antwerp’s polished diamond exports in March 2013 dipped (on y-o-y basis) by 12 percent in value terms and by 5.8 percent in volume terms. This is being attributed to the shift in the Basel Show which in 2012 was organised in March and in 2013 is slated in April, affecting the exports to Switzerland in March. This year in March, the said exports rose by 4.96 percent to 614,600.99 carats when compared to February 2013. The average price per carat of polished diamond equaled $1,975 in March 2013.

The polished diamond exports to Hong Kong in March 2013 rose 84 percent which is being attributed to the shift in the Hong Kong Diamond trade fair from February last year to March this year.

Import of polished diamonds dropped (on y-o-y basis) 1.79 percent in volume terms and by 2.75 percent in value terms. Compared to February 2013, the said imports rose by 40.58 percent in volume terms and by 55.27 percent in value terms.

Caroline De Wolf, communications manager AWDC: “The diamond business in Antwerp is doing well when you look at the first three months of the year. Both import and export of rough and polished diamonds rose, compared to last month. The figures of March 2013 versus those of one year earlier are virtually incomparable due to fact that some international trade fairs and the DTC sight took place in a different month.“

Rough diamond exports in March 2013 decreased (on y-o-y basis) 20.94 percent in volume terms, and by 3.91 percent in value. Imports of rough diamonds decreased (on y-o-y basis) 12.08 percent in volume terms and by 13.19 percent in value terms. In comparison to February 2013, volume of imported rough diamonds rose by 6.21 percent, and by 2.46 percent rise in terms of value. The rough diamond trade as compared to March 2012 being different is being attributed largely to DTC sight taking place in March 2012, whereas this year, it is scheduled to take place in April.