Belgium Polished Trade Drops in February

RAPAPORT... Belgium's polished-diamond exports slid last month,according to data from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). Polished exports decreased 6% year on year to $1.28 billion in February and, by volume, fell 5% to 503,890 carats. The average price declined 1% to$2,535 per carat. Polished exports to the US slumped 21% to $201.2 million,while shipments to Hong Kong dropped 10% to $667.6 million. Polished imports fell 3% to$719 million, while net polished exports - the excess of exports over imports -slipped 9% to $558.3 million. Rough imports slid 5% to $866.3 million, whilerough exports were down 6% to $1.02 billion. Net rough imports stood at negative$156.6 million compared with negative $179.9 million a year before. The country's net diamondaccount - the sum of rough and polished exports minus total imports - dipped 10%to $715 million in February.