Belgium’s polished-diamond exports increased 12% year on year to $683 million in November as the global market continued to strengthen ahead of the holidays. The rise reflected growth in the volume of shipments, which outweighed a weaker average price, according to Rapaport calculations based on data the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) released this week.
Belgium Trade Data for November 2021
| November 2021 | Year-on-year change | |
| Polished exports | $683M | 12% |
| Polished imports | $858M | 63% |
| Net polished exports | -$175M | 2020: Surplus of $87M |
| Rough imports | $1.01B | 44% |
| Rough exports | $869M | 20% |
| Net rough imports | $146M | 2020: Deficit of $22M |
| Net diamond account | -$321M | 2020: Surplus of $109M |
| Polished exports (volume) | 338,742 carats | 26% |
| Average price of polished exports | $2,018/carat | -11% |
| January-November 2021 | Year-on-year change | |
| Polished exports | $7.08B | 37% |
| Polished imports | $7.18B | 43% |
| Net polished exports | -$104M | 2020: Surplus of $168M |
| Rough imports | $9.77B | 64% |
| Rough exports | $9.91B | 73% |
| Net rough imports | -$135M | 2020: Surplus of $252M |
| Net diamond account | $31M | 2020: Deficit of $83M |
| Polished exports (volume) | 3.4 million carats | 38% |
| Average price of polished exports | $2,107/carat | -1% |
About the data: Belgium is usually a net exporter of polished diamonds. As such, net polished exports — representing polished exports minus polished imports — will normally be a positive number. The nation has historically been a net importer of rough, though in recent years, it has often been a net rough exporter. While Antwerp is still home to some high-value manufacturing, its main role in the market is as a facilitator of rough-diamond trading, with companies from around the world coming to the city to buy rough. The net diamond account is total rough and polished exports minus total imports. It is Belgium’s diamond trade balance, and shows the added value the nation creates by exporting rough or manufacturing it into polished.
BRON: Rapaport 21-12-2021
