In March 2010, Belgium saw a rise in polished diamond export and import activities. There was a 57 percent increase in polished diamond exports which amounted to $1.12 billion, and a 59 percent rise in the import of polished goods amounting to $1.14 billion, reports say. This resulted in net polished (export) deficit of $19.5 million, from a deficit of $5.6 million in the previous year, reports add.

Rough diamond imports in the month also increased by a whooping 91 percent to $854 million, and exports soared by 130 percent to $1 billion, reports add. There was a rough import deficit of $155.6 million noted at the end of the month, as compared to $6.1 million worth of net rough import in March 2009. In March 2010, the net diamond account improved to $136.1 million, from a deficit of $11.6 million, in the previous year.