Belgium Sees Rise in Polished Trade

RAPAPORT... Belgium's polished-diamond exports increased in January,according to data from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). Polished exports jumped 29% year on year to $813.4 millionand, by volume, rose 21% to 352.1 million carats. The average price grew 6% to$2,310 per carat.Polished exports to the US surged 48% to $275.4 million, while shipments to Hong Kong soared 95% to $144 million. Those increases outweighed a 5% decline in exports to Israel to $102 million.  Polished imports saw an 8% rise to $955.5 million, while netpolished exports - the excess of exports over imports -stood at negative $142 million, compared with negative $249.9 million a year ago. Rough imports climbed 14% to $1.09 billion, while roughexports slid 1% to $1.02 billion. Net rough imports strengthened to $75 million from negative $75.3 million a year before. The country's net diamond account - the sum of rough and polishedexports minus total imports - dropped to negative $217 million in January fromnegative $174.6 million a year ago.