Belgium's rough and polished diamond imports and exports were largely positive in April, with higher dollar amounts being paid on lower volumes indicating healthy demand for goods, according to figures published by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre Diamond Office.

Belgium's polished diamond exports last month rose by 28.8 percent in volume terms from April last year to 672,803 carats, while surging 45.1 percent to $1.01 billion.

For the first four months of 2011, polished diamond exports jumped 29.8 percent in volume terms on the same period of 2010 to 3.02 million carats, while jumping 33.2 percent to $4.44 billion.

In the rough diamond category, Belgium exported 7.07 million carats in April, a decline of 32.3 percent, but in financial terms there was a jump of 26.4 percent to $1.13 billion.

In the January-April period, Belgium exported 41.2 million carats of rough diamonds, a decrease of 9.0 percent, but in financial terms there was a jump of 28.4 percent to $4.65 billion.

In polished diamond imports, Belgium bought 668,576 carats in April, a rise of 12.0 percent from April 2010, with a 43.4 percent increase in financial terms to $1.0 billion.

For the first four months of 2011, Belgium imported 3.10 million carats of polished diamonds, a rise of 19.3 percent on the year, with a 29.9 percent rise in financial terms to $4.21 billion.

In the rough diamond imports category, Belgium bought 7.01 million carats worth $857.3 million in April, a fall of 30.3 percent in volume terms, and of 4.7 percent, in financial terms from April 2010.

In the January-April period, Belgium imported 37.9 million carats of rough diamonds, a decrease of 9.0 percent on the year, but in financial terms there was a jump of 28.4 percent to $4.24 billion.