Antwerp's trade in rough diamonds in August surpassed the same month in 2013, both in the import and export segments, and continued the positive trading trend this year. The import and export of diamonds also increased slightly by August of last year, when trade figures were relatively modest, reported the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC).
The diamond trade continued to develop positively in August, further strengthening the good indicators that have been observed since the beginning of the year. Compared with August 2013, imports increased by 16% in volume and by 30% in value - by 6.75 million carats and $ 1.1 billion, respectively. Trade for exports was also very successful with growth of 31% in physical terms and 36% in value terms. 4.74 million carats worth $ 675 million were exported. The
difference in polished diamond imports in August compared to the same month of 2013 was small, with a decrease of 3% in volume and 7% in value at 502,000 carats for a total of $ 833 million. Indicators of polished exports were slightly lower than last August, it decreased by 15% in physical terms and by 12% in value terms: to almost 222 thousand carats and $ 484 million.
AWDC also notes both the growth and decline in the volume of polished exports, depending on the country. In the US, in August, exports rose 26% to just above 38,000 carats and 16% to a value of $ 155 million, which is a normalization of trade due to lower figures in August 2013. Exports to the UAE fell by 44% in volume to just over 25 thousand carats and by 40% at a cost - up to $ 26 million. Compared to August 2013, exports to China were characterized by a sharp increase in both physical and value terms that is the result of a significant decline in last year's trading indicators. The growth of exports to China increased by 94% in volume - up to 15 thousand carats for $ 23 million.
In the diamond import segment, an increase in shipments from Hong Kong was recorded: by 47% in volume and 41% by value - to about 98 thousand carats for $ 134 million. The volume of imports from Israel increased by 104%, but fell by 8% , despite the fact that there was an influx of less expensive stones to Antwerp.