Rough diamond exports from Antwerp dropped by as much as 14.7% in value terms during February 2017, while polished diamond exports also fell by 15.15% during the month as compared to a year earlier, according to figures released by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).

During the month of February, Antwerp exported nearly 12.1 million carats of rough at a value of US$ 1.09 billion, a year-on-year decline of 1.54% in terms of volume and 14.73% in value terms. The centre also reported a y-o-y drop in rough imports – with 9.6 mn carats of rough being imported at US$ 908.2 million, a drop of 31.66% in volume terms, and of 18.46% in value terms.

Trade in polished also remained sluggish. In February 2017, the centre exported 530,947 cts of polished at a value of US$ 1.35 bn, a fall of 13.78% in volume terms, and of 15.15% in value terms year-on-year. During this period, the centre imported 362,421 cts of polished at a value of US$ 739.48 mn, with volume dropping by 30.35%, and value declining by 16.01% as compared to February 2016.

Over the first two months of the year, rough exports of 22.5 mn cts at US$ 2.11 bn witnessed an increase of 6.52% in volume and 2.42% in value, while rough imports of 17.29 mn cts at US$ 1.86 bn registered a drop of 0.68% in volume and 9.55% in value terms.

During the year to date, polished exports stood at 8.21 mn cts at US$ 1.99 bn, down 18.97% in volume and 16.15% in value, while polished imports of 8.67 mn cts  at US$ 1.62 bn, dropped 18.38% in volume and 13.16% in value terms.