Antwerp recorded a strong rise in rough exports and imports in August, Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC) announced yesterday.

Rough diamond exports increased by 143.9% in value terms compared with August 2006, to $806.1 million. By volume, rough diamond exports soared 186.7 % to 10.1 million carats.

Rough imports rose by 41.2% last month to $860.2 million. In carat terms, imports increased 9% to 11 million carats.

Polished exports were up 64.5% in August to $480.7 million, whie by volume, exports increased 26.1% to 404,976 carats.

Polished imports jumped 22.6% in August on the same month last year to $708.3 million, and 18.4% to 797,653 carats.

For the first eight months, polished imports and exports also saw strong activity.

In the January – August period, rough diamond exports jumped by 25.9% to $7.64 billion, and 20.1% by volume to 97.3 million carats.

Rough imports for the first eight months of the year rose by a more modest 13.6% to $6.77 billion and 3.7% to 89.3 million carats.

During the first eight months of 2007, polished exports rose 13.1% on the same period last year to $6.87 billion, and by volume exports rose 11.3% to 6.21 million carats.

Polished imports for the January – August period increased 9% to 6.5 billion, and 5.4% to 6.54 million carats.