Belgium exported $958.3 million worth of polished diamonds in July 2009, less by 35 percent in comparison to the same month last year. Average price was of $1,230.73 per carat, falling by 19 percent. In volume terms, Belgium polished diamond exports dipped 20 percent to 778,626.82 carats. Region-wise, polished exports increased in Hong Kong by 7 percent to $163.6 million. China too was a growing export destination for Belgium. Besides these two, polished exports dipped; to United States dipped by 34 percent to $284.5 million and to Israel by 53 percent to $109 million.

Polished diamond imports decreased 30 percent to $655.9 million, amounting to net polished exports (valued by the extent by which polished exports exceeded imports), dipping 43 percent to $302.4 million.

Rough diamond imports scaled down by 45 percent to $627.8 million, and rough exports by 29 percent to $856 million, in the said month. Reports say the country’s net rough account showed a deficit at $228.3 million, as compared to the $69.2 million deficit of last year.

The country’s July net diamond account, which measures total exports less total imports, declined by 11 percent to $530.7 million.