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New Banking Law Set to Support Antwerp Trade
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Belgium’s federal parliament has approved a new law entitling diamond companies to open bank accounts even after suffering repeated rejections.The Basic Banking Law guarantees fundamental banking services to all Belgian companies, the Antwerp...
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Polished Markets
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Oct 27, 2020
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Joshua Freedman
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Chaim Pluczenik Becomes AWDC President
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The board of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) has elected Chaim Pluczenik as president, a spokesperson for the trade organization said Monday.Pluczenik, owner of Antwerp-based dealer Pluczenik Diamond Company, replaces Nishit Parikh, who...
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Polished Markets
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Oct 19, 2020
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Rapaport News
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Hong Kong Show Cancellation Hits Belgium Trade
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Belgium’s polished shipments slumped last month as the cancellation of the September Hong Kong show and continued uncertainty around Covid-19 stalled the sector’s recovery.“Rough is performing really well; polished is still somewhat subdued,” a spokesperson...
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Polished Markets
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Oct 12, 2020
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Rapaport News
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Nishit Parikh Stepping Down as AWDC President
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The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) has reshuffled its leadership team, with president Nishit Parikh retiring and six new members joining the board.Parikh, the CEO of Diarough, chose not to run again...
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Polished Markets
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Oct 01, 2020
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Rapaport News
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Alrosa Names New Belgium Chief
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Alrosa has appointed Akil Zubir as managing director of its Belgium office, the miner said Thursday. He will succeed Sergey Panchekhin, who has worked for the company for more than 20 years and plans...
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Mining
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Sep 21, 2020
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Rapaport News
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Belgium Exports Rise as Demand Returns
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Belgium’s polished-diamond exports grew for the first time in 16 months in August, as demand rose after a long period of inactivity.“There’s definitely demand and shortages in certain categories. People are buying again,” Karen Rentmeesters, senior communications...
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Polished Markets
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Sep 09, 2020
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Joshua Freedman
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Belgium Sees Trading Slump Ease
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Belgium’s diamond shipments continued to fall in July, but the rate of decline slowed as markets reopened following coronavirus shutdowns. The country’s polished exports dropped 35% year on year for the month, compared with a 44%...
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Polished Markets
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Aug 30, 2020
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Rapaport News
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GIA Considers Shutting Antwerp Lab
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The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) plans to close or heavily scale back its Antwerp operations following a review of its business in the Belgian city.“Based on global and local market conditions and activity, and the impact...
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Polished Markets
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Aug 30, 2020
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Rapaport News
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ABN Amro to Cease Hong Kong Diamond Lending
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Dutch bank ABN Amro will close its Hong Kong diamond business in a major trimming of its global operations.The company is shutting the branch from which it lends to the local polished market, as part of a retreat from...
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Financial-Legal
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Aug 13, 2020
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Joshua Freedman
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Antwerp Trading Halls Shut for Second Time
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The Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses has closed all four of Antwerp’s trading floors following a spike in coronavirus cases in the city.The national government tightened social-distancing rules on Monday to prevent a repeat of the full lockdown it instituted...
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Polished Markets
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Jul 28, 2020
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Joshua Freedman
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Belgium’s Diamond Shipments Drop Further
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Belgium’s diamond trade slowed in June, with polished exports down 44% year on year to $469 million, according to data from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). However, the rate of decline eased following heavier...
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Polished Markets
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Jul 05, 2020
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Rapaport News
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Buyers Snub De Beers and Alrosa over High Prices
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De Beers and Alrosa continued to see rock-bottom sales in June as buyers rejected the miners’ high rough prices in favor of cheaper goods from smaller suppliers.“[The major miners] want to hold on to prices, so people don’t see any...
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Rough Markets
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Jun 29, 2020
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Joshua Freedman
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Slowdown in Belgian Shipments Eases
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Belgium’s diamond trade continued to decline in May, but at a gentler pace that in the previous month as global markets gradually reopened. Total imports and exports of rough and polished stones fell 81% year on year, compared...
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Polished Markets
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Jun 25, 2020
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Rapaport News
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Gem Diamonds Notes Solid Rough Demand
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Gem Diamonds reported a rise in the average selling price for the first half of 2020, noting that appetite for its goods had improved at a recent tender in Antwerp.“The results of the latest tender for Letšeng’s...
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Rough Markets
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Jun 18, 2020
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Rapaport News
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Antwerp Trade Suffers Its Worst Month Ever
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Belgium’s diamond trade fell to its lowest level on record in April as US orders dried up and the shutdown of the aviation industry made transporting goods almost impossible.Total diamond shipments in and out of Belgium slumped 89% year...
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Polished Markets
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May 13, 2020
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Joshua Freedman
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Antwerp Trading Floors to Reopen May 11
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Antwerp’s four diamond-trading halls will reopen next week as Belgium gradually relaxes its restrictions on movement and social interaction.The government permitted diamond companies to restart operations on Monday, though many employees will work from...
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Polished Markets
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May 04, 2020
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Joshua Freedman
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De Beers Cancels March-April Sight
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De Beers has called off this week’s sight in Botswana, citing restrictions resulting from measures to contain the coronavirus.Lockdowns in Botswana, South Africa and India are prohibiting sightholders from traveling and preventing the shipment...
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Rough Markets
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Mar 30, 2020
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Rapaport News
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Belgian Banks Postpone Loan Repayments
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Belgium has introduced emergency financial concessions to help companies survive the current downturn, offering businesses extra time to repay loans and meet tax obligations.The government and banks have agreed to postpone repayments of existing...
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Financial-Legal
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Mar 30, 2020
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Rapaport News
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De Beers Sight Still On Despite Travel Ban
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De Beers’ upcoming sight in Botswana will still take place despite the country’s ban on arrivals from the US, China, India and Belgium, the miner has confirmed.“While this is an extraordinary situation and COVID-19 has...
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Rough Markets
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Mar 18, 2020
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Joshua Freedman
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Belgium, Israel to Hold Online Diamond Fair
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Belgian and Israeli industry organizations are jointly organizing a virtual trade show to compensate for the cancellation of major exhibitions around the world.The Online Diamond Trade Fair will run from March 30 to April 3, the...
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Polished Markets
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Mar 18, 2020
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Rapaport News
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