Antwerp reported a year-on-year decline in the rough diamond trade in May, reflecting a downward trend since the start of the year, according to data from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). Data from AWDC further showed that trade in rough diamonds has been on the downswing since January 2019.
While exports of rough diamonds in value terms were down 37.38 percent compared to the same period last year, imports dropped 15.94 percent. January to May figures likewise saw a decline of 27.44 percent for exports and 26.72 percent for imports.
Polished diamond exports meanwhile fell 0.02 percent year-on-year in May while imports rose 5.77 percent. From January to May, shipments of polished diamonds were down 0.24 percent while imports were up 2.62 percent.
The US remains as Belgium’s top trading partner in polished diamond exports and imports, followed by Hong Kong and Switzerland.
