Antwerp’s diamond trade recorded a stable performance in September 2014. Following a traditionally slow August, due to summer vacation, the Antwerp diamond sector’s trade figures increased back to their normal value. Volume of rough diamond imports rose 19.15 percent, while in value terms it rose 27.81 percent. The volume of rough diamond exports rose 9.26 percent and value-wise it rose 18.19 percent. Volume and value of rough diamonds traded on the Antwerp market were more in September.

Polished diamond imports rose 7.62 percent in volume and 10.38 percent in value, mostly originating from Hong Kong, India and the UAE. Exports of polished diamonds rose by 8.83 percent in volume and 15.03 percent in value. Exports mainly concentrated at Hong Kong, the U.S. and UAE.

The fact that the trade figures for September of this year were generally more positive than in September of last year can also be explained by the Jewish holidays taking place in October this year, as opposed to them taking place in September of last year, thereby decreasing trade activity.