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Antwerp Diamond Centre is to release a stalled shipment of gems worth $200 million.

Some $200 million (£128.5 million) worth of diamonds has been released by a regulatory body in Belgium after a trading organisation lost its license.

According to Israeli Diamond Industry, the shipment of rough diamonds was seized because Brink, the organisation managing the transfer, had to commence bankruptcy proceedings for its Cash in Transit company earlier in November, with its license to trade revoked as a result.

The stones were held at Zaventem Airport under the authority of the Antwerp Diamond Centre (AWDC), an international regulatory body for the industry, after it raised financial concerns over the issue.

An open letter from the AWDC stated that the stalled shipment paralysed the distribution chain of rough gems, causing a great deal of damage to the sector, adding "Antwerp cannot be held hostage in this conflict any longer."

Last week, two rough diamonds mined in Lesotho, southern Africa were sold for $22.7 million, while a 4.68-carat rough blue diamond went for $4155,000 per carat – a record value for a gemstone from that site.

Indian diamond traders are gearing up to raise their prices next year as demand for the jewels increases.

Shoppers looking to buy a diamond ring may need to speed up their search, as prices of the precious stone is set to climb from March 2011.

According to the India Times, the country's diamond industry – which produces diamond rings and diamond pendants – is due to remain steady until spring next year, when demand is expected to push the trade of cut and polished gems higher.

Managing director of Forever Jewellery Jai Begani said: "Prices of polished diamonds have increased by almost 15 per cent in the last three months and it is not easy for us to buy at such high rates."

The 80,000-crore Indian industry (£11 billion) is responsible for cutting and polishing nine in 11 of the world's jewels and is currently making a loss of six or seven per cent.

Earlier this month, a rough diamond mined in Lesotho, southern Africa, was valued at almost £7 million.