Belgian exports of polished diamonds fell 7% in March, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) reported. The country's polished diamond exports fell on the year to $1.09 billion and in volume terms were down 13% to 423,764 carats.
That meant a higher average price per carat for the goods shipped abroad – up 7% to $2,570.
In an indication of the decline in importance of the huge Baselworld show, polished exports to Switzerland, where the show is held, slumped 36% to $271 million.
On the negative side, exports to the United Arab Emirates slumped by 41% to $55.4 million. However, exports to Hong Kong soared 48% to $140 million. Exports to the US jumped 29% to $319 million.
Polished imports edged up 1% to $1.49 billion, meaning Belgium was left with $400 million of polished diamonds that it was not able to sell.
In rough diamonds, imports surged 10% to $1.17 billion, while rough exports soaring were $1.48 billion, meaning there was strong demand for Belgium's rough goods.
In the first three months of this year, polished exports edged up 1% to $3.18 billion, while rough imports went rose 7% to $3.12 billion.
