In March 2016, Antwerp’s polished diamond exports dropped 5.87 percent (on y-o-y basis) in value terms to US$ 1.16 billion, as per AWDC, reports say. The volume of the said exports stood at 489,611 carats falling 8.08 percent over the same period last year, as per reports. Antwerp imported 614,926 carats of polished diamonds in the said month (20.84 decline on y-o-y basis), which valued US$ 1.57 billion (13.43 percent drop on y-o-y basis).

The rough diamond trade also reflected a fall. Exports of rough diamonds decreased 14.10 percent in value to amount to US$ 1.12 billion. But the volume of the exports - 100,42,705 carats rose 5.43 percent on y-o-y basis, reports add. Imports of rough diamonds amounted to 80,06,216 carats representing a 22.82 percent fall on y-o-y basis. The rough diamond imports valued US$ 979.45 million (30.09 percent decline on y-o-y basis).