Belgium's January Polished Exports +9%

Belgium's polished diamond exports rose 8.6 percent year on year in January to $891.1 million, according to the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. The average price per carat rose 7.4 percent to $1,878. Polished diamond imports for the month fell 2.4 percent to $1.134 billion, leaving a net polished export deficit of $242.9 million compared with a deficit of almost $342 million one year ago.

Rough diamond imports increased 6.5 percent to $1.115 billion and rough exports jumped 7.3 percent to $1.058 billion, leaving net imports of only $57 million compared with $61 million in January 2012. Belgium's net diamond account for January, reflecting the difference between net polished exports and net rough imports, registered a deficit of $399 million compared with a deficit of $403 million one year ago.

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