Trade figures for the diamond sector in Antwerp remained stable in September, the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC) reported.
The volumes of imports and exports of rough diamonds were approximately the same. This is less true of diamonds, but more expensive products were sold more actively compared to the first nine months of last year.
After the traditional slowdown in August, due to the summer vacation period, trade in the diamond industry in Antwerp returned to its normal values. Imports and exports of rough diamonds in physical terms increased by 19.15% and 9.26%, respectively. At the same time, in terms of value terms, growth was 27.81% and 18.19%, respectively.
Compared with September last year, the Antwerp market sold more rough diamonds, while the stones were more valuable.
In addition, when comparing the first three quarters of 2014 with the same period last year, it is obvious that the volume and value of both imports and exports have increased. Considering the import of diamonds in September 2014, we will see that in comparison with September last year there was an increase of 7.62% in volume and 10.38% in value terms. The stones were imported mainly from Hong Kong, India and the UAE.
At the same time, during the first nine months of this year less diamonds were imported than during the same period of 2013. By volume, the decline was 4.56%. In the segment of polished exports there was a similar trend. Compared to the same month of the previous year, a significant increase in both volume and value was noted - by 8.83% and 15.03%, respectively. Diamonds were exported mainly to Hong Kong, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. From January to September this year, less diamonds were exported than in 2013. There was a 2.57% decrease in volume, but an increase in value by 6.29%. This shows that fewer, but more expensive diamonds were sold.
The fact that the trade figures for September this year are more positive than in September last year can be explained by the fact that Jewish holidays this year fell in October, and not in September, as in the past year, which affected the decline in trading activity.