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CEPA completes 3 years; powering India-UAE trade and economic ties

Bilateral gem and jewellery trade surged from US$ 20.88 billion in FY2022 to US$ 28.15 billion in FY2024, reflecting a robust 35% increase

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The *Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)* between *India and the UAE*, formalised on 18th February 2022, has profoundly strengthened economic ties between the two nations. As we commemorate its third anniversary, it is evident that CEPA has significantly enhanced trade opportunities, particularly for India’s gem and jewellery industry.

Since CEPA’s implementation, trade between India and the UAE has witnessed remarkable growth. The bilateral gem and jewellery trade surged from US$ 20.88 billion in FY2022 to US$ 28.15 billion in FY2024, reflecting a robust 35% increase. India’s gem and jewellery exports to the UAE also soared by over 60%, from US$ 4.95 billion in FY2022 to US$ 8.04 billion in FY2024.

Notably, UAE’s share in India’s total exports rose from 13% in FY2022 to 25% in FY2024, overtaking Hong Kong as India’s second-largest export market. This underscores the transformative impact of CEPA on India’s trade dynamics.

One of the most significant benefits of CEPA has been the duty-free access for all gem and jewellery products, including gold, silver, and platinum jewellery, along with polished diamonds and gemstones.This development has motivated Indian exporters to increase their supply of various gem and jewellery items to the UAE, capitalising on the enhanced market access provided by the agreement.

This policy shift has led to substantial growth in key export categories:

Plain Gold Jewellery: Exports surged by 127.62%, reaching US$ 4,240 million in FY2024.

Studded Gold Jewellery: Increased by over 50%, from US$ 917 million in FY2022 to US$ 1,382 million in FY2024.

Worked Lab-Grown Diamonds: Witnessed a 58.16% growth, reaching US$ 172 million in FY2024.

Platinum Jewellery: Recorded a staggering 820.87% increase, reaching US$ 23 million.

Coloured Gemstones: Grew by 17.19% to US$ 9.34 million

*Kirit Bhansali*, Chairman, GJEPC, said, “The India-UAE CEPA has propelled our gem and jewellery exports to new heights, growing by over 60% from US$ 4.95 billion in FY2022 to US$ 8.04 billion in FY2024. The UAE now accounts for nearly a quarter of India’s total gem and jewellery exports, surpassing Hong Kong. The duty-free advantage has unlocked immense opportunities, particularly in plain gold jewellery, which saw a 127% surge. As we celebrate three years of CEPA, we remain committed to strengthening this vital partnership and exploring new avenues for growth.”

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National News

India’s Major Retail Jewellery Players Made A Strong Start To FY27

The Common Drivers Are Clear: Strong Same-Store Sales, Fast Store Expansion, Premiumisation, and A Better Product Mix.

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India’s organised jewellery retailers have made a strong start to FY27, with Kalyan Jewellers, P N Gadgil Jewellers and Titan Company all showing that branded players can still grow quickly even in a record gold-price environment. The common drivers are clear: strong same-store sales, fast store expansion, premiumisation, and a better product mix.

Kalyan’s broad-based growth

Kalyan Jewellers reported about 38% consolidated revenue growth in Q1 FY27, with India operations also rising by more than 38% despite the 28-day Adhik Maas period, which usually softens wedding-related demand. Same-store sales growth was around 28%, showing that existing stores remained the main engine of momentum. Candere was a standout, posting about 112% growth, while Kalyan added 12 Kalyan showrooms and five Candere outlets during the quarter.

The company also highlighted a shift toward recycled gold through its “Shine with India” campaign, with recycled gold contributing more than 46% of revenue in Q1 and over 55% in June. That suggests Kalyan is not only growing demand but also improving sourcing efficiency at the same time.

PNG’s premium mix

P N Gadgil Jewellers reported 41% year-on-year revenue growth in Q1 FY27, with retail revenue up 56% and same-store sales up 46%, which points to very strong productivity at existing stores. Retail now contributes roughly 78% of revenue, while franchise and e-commerce also expanded healthily. The company’s retail stud ratio increased to 10.9%, indicating improving demand for studded jewellery and a higher-value product mix.

PNG also noted that newer stores in North and Central India are already showing higher studded jewellery penetration than its traditional Maharashtra and Goa markets. That matters because it signals that the brand is successfully taking its premium assortment to new geographies, not just expanding store count.

Titan’s steady momentum

Titan’s jewellery business also continued to grow strongly, with domestic jewellery operations rising around 18% to 39% depending on the business-update frame reported, supported by Akshaya Tritiya demand and healthy early-quarter buyer traffic. Titan said consumers increasingly preferred lightweight and lower-karat jewellery as gold prices climbed, while plain gold jewellery grew in the mid-teens and studded jewellery delivered early double-digit growth. Tanishq’s like-to-like sales grew in early double digits, and CaratLane also posted healthy double-digit like-to-like growth.

Titan expanded its jewellery network by adding 19 net stores in the quarter, including Tanishq, Mia and CaratLane outlets. That reinforces the same theme seen across the sector: scale, distribution and brand trust are helping large organised players win share.

What it means

The quarter suggests that high gold prices are changing what consumers buy, not whether they buy. Buyers are shifting toward lighter designs, lower karatage, studded jewellery and branded channels, which helps organised retailers defend growth even when raw material prices are elevated. In that setting, store expansion and premiumisation are offsetting pricing pressure, while digital channels and recycled-gold initiatives are adding another layer of resilience.

For the upcoming festive and wedding season, the sector appears well positioned, especially if gold prices stay volatile but not sharply disruptive. The strongest signal from these updates is that organised jewellery retail is gaining share from unorganised players rather than simply riding higher ticket values.

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