Belgian exports of polished diamonds in February dropped on the year to $1.25 billion from $1.37 billion a year earlier, according to figures published by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).
Meanwhile, exports in volume terms totaled 585,565 carats from 655,196 carats in February 2012. The average price per carat rose to $2,127 from $2,095 in February 2012.
Meanwhile, exports of rough diamonds last month fell to 7.49 million carats from 9.10 million carats last year, while declining to $1.12 billion from $1.16 billion last year. The average price per carat rose to $150 from $128 in February 2012.
In imports of rough diamonds in February, there was a decrease to 7.74 million carats from 8.87 million carats last year, but a rise to $1.16 billion from $1.07 billion in 2012. The average price per carat rose to $149 from $121 in February 2012.
Imports of polished diamonds in volume terms dropped to 513,195 carats from 602,797 carats, and $816.4 million compared to $1.25 billion. The average price per carat rose to $1,591 from $2,070 in February 2012.
Belgium's main export markets for its polished diamonds in February were Hong Kong, followed by the United States, the United Arab Emirates, India, and Switzerland.
Exports to Hong Kong last month were $414.8 million from $490.9 million, and 135,358 carats from 182,940 carats last year.
The prominence of exports to Hong Kong is partly due to the Chinese New Year that took place earlier this year, and shipments of goods ahead of the March 5-9 Hong Kong Trade International Jewellery Show.
Exports to the United States, were $260.5 million from $298.5 million last year, and 79,415 carats in February from 80,228 carats in February 2012.