The polished diamond exports from Belgium fell drastically by value, while the fall in volume was less, when compared to the figures in June 2008. As reported, the country’s polished diamond exports decreased by 35 percent to $755.5 million, and by 7 percent in volume to amount to 659,319.83 carats. Reports say that the prices of diamonds have slipped down by 30 percent as compared to June 2008. %% Polished diamond exports to Israel showed the maximum fall of 47 percent; while to U.S. it dipped by 39 percent, to Hong Kong by 26 percent, and to India by 10 percent. %% Imports of polished diamonds decreased by 38 percent to $757.4 million, by which, the country’s net polished exports (excess of exports over imports) increased by 97 percent to negative $2 million. %% The month saw a 38 percent dip in rough diamond imports into Belgium. The rough imports amounted to $657.9 million, while rough exports valued at $763.2 million decreasing 35 percent. The country’s net rough imports (imports less exports) —increased by 16 percent to negative $105.3 million. This brought the country’s June net diamond account (which measures excess of total exports over total imports) to increase by 64 percent and amount to $103.3 million. %% The first six months of 2009 saw a 38 percent fall in polished diamond exports which amounted to $4.05 billion, polished imports decreased by 40 percent to $3.85 billion. Rough diamond import dipped by 55 percent to $2.65 billion, while rough exports were down by 52 percent to $3.03 billion.