Belgian polished exports in May this year rose by 7.7% to $ 1.271 billion, while the price per carat of diamonds rose by 12.5% to $ 1.993, according to the Antwerp World Diamond Center, .
Imports of polished diamonds rose 27.9% to $ 1.314 billion, while the net deficit of diamond exports was $ 43 million, compared to net exports of $ 154 million in May 2012.
Belgian rough imports fell 5.4% to $ 1.051 billion in May, while exports rose 6.1% to $ 1.221 billion. The rough diamond export deficit last month was $ 170 million from $ 40 million in May last year.
Belgium's balance of operations with diamonds and diamonds, reflecting the difference between exports and imports, declined and reached a deficit of $ 3 million compared to a surplus of $ 194 million a year earlier.
During the first five months of 2013, Belgium exported polished diamonds for $ 5.778 billion, which is 1.4% more than the same period last year. In turn, polished imports fell 2.3% to $ 5.542 billion.