In the month of September 2010, Belgium accounted for $1.26 billion worth of gross polished diamond exports, indicating a 21 percent increase y-o-y. The same exports increased only 1 percent in volume terms to $1,560.28 per carat, following a 19 percent increase in the average price on the stones.

Imports of polished diamonds stood at $1.16 billion, increasing by 42 percent. The polished exports (calculated as excess of exports over imports) showed a 54 percent drop to $105.1 million at the end of the said month. Also the rough diamond imports rose 3 percent to $637.1 million. Exports of rough diamonds stepped up 12 percent to $837.6 million. The net rough imports decreased 54 percent to $200.5 million worth of deficit.

The September net diamond account (measured as total exports of polished and rough less total imports) fell 14 percent to $305.6 million.