Polished diamond exports from Belgium rise 4% in February 2012

In February 2012, Belgium recorded growth in both its rough and polished diamond trade. There was a 4 percent increase (on y-o-y basis) in polished diamond exports to $1.37 billion and a good 41 percent rise in polished diamond imports to $1.25 billion. The country’s net polished exports (valued as the excess of exports over imports) stood at $124.8 million, or 71 percent below that of February 2011.

Rough diamond imports in the said month rose just 2 percent to $1.1 billion, and exports also rose similarly by 2 percent to $1.16 billion. At the end of the month, the excess of rough exports over imports resulted in a deficit of $91.8 million (indicating a slight rise from the deficit level in February 2011).

The net diamond account stood at $216.6 million in February 2012.