Belgium's rough and polished diamond imports and exports in May show that the market continues to be prepared to pay rising prices for rough and polished goods. Buyers are continuing to pay higher dollar amounts for lower volumes of diamonds, according to figures published by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre Diamond Office.

Belgium's polished diamond exports in May rose by 33.2 percent in volume terms from May last year to 839,372 carats, while surging 51.2 percent to $1.4 billion.

For the first five months of 2011, polished diamond exports jumped 30.5 percent in volume terms on the same period of 2010 to 3.86 million carats, while jumping 37.1 percent to $5.83 billion.

In the rough diamond category, Belgium exported 10.1 million carats in May, a decline of 8.0 percent, but in financial terms there was a jump of 71.7 percent to $1.47 billion.

In the January-May period, Belgium exported 51.3 million carats of rough diamonds, a decrease of 8.84 percent, but in financial terms there was a jump of 36.7 percent to $6.12 billion.

In polished diamond imports, Belgium bought 907,582 carats in May, a rise of 48.2 percent from May 2010, with a 63.8 percent increase in financial terms to $1.20 billion.

For the first five months of 2011, Belgium imported 4.0 million carats of polished diamonds, a rise of 24.8 percent on the year, with a 36.2 percent rise in financial terms to $5.41 billion.

In the rough diamond imports category, Belgium bought 9.32 million carats worth $1.41 billion in May, a rise of 6.6 percent in volume terms, and of 99.3 percent in financial terms from May 2010.

In the January-May period, Belgium imported 47.2 million carats of rough diamonds, a decrease of 6.3 percent on the year, but in financial terms there was a jump of 40.9 percent to $5.64 billion.