Imports to the “world diamond center” in Antwerp rose sharply on the eve of February 14, but soon returned to the previous level.
A Politico source called this phenomenon temporary, amid a reduction in imports due to public pressure.
By Valentine’s Day, February 14, there was a surge in demand for Russian-made diamonds, writes Politico, citing data from the Belgian Ministry of Economy.
The publication notes that the “world diamond center” is located in Antwerp, and therefore the country’s authorities opposed the ban on the import of Russian precious stones. In their opinion, sanctions will only lead to the fact that exports from Russia will be redirected to other countries. At the same time, imports from Russia are declining even without sanctions due to public pressure, Belgian diplomats pointed out. In the third quarter of last year, it fell by a third.
At the same time, last December and January, imports increased again on the eve of Valentine’s Day. So, in January Belgium imported rough diamonds from Russia for €132 million (a year earlier for €97 million).
