(IDEX Online) - Exports of polished diamonds form Belgium were up 6.3 per cent in August, compared with the same month last year, in spite of the coronavirus pandemic.Total sales were $343m, according to figures released by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) on Tuesday. Carats sold were down 8.3 per cent to 156,795.Exports were down over 50 per cent by dollar value in the first half of 2020 but have been recovering steadily since hitting rock bottom in April."Antwerp's August figures are encouraging, demonstrating activity has resumed in the market, demand is picking up ahead of the all-important holiday season and sentiment is positive," Karen Rentmeesters, senior AWDC communications manager told IDEX Online. "We remain cautious, but it looks like the industry has taken a corner."August is typically a flat month for diamond sales, largely because of vacations - which have been severely impacted by the pandemic. Polished exports to the U.S. were up almost 50 per cent to $118m and sale to Hong Kong rose bu just over 10 per cent.