National News
GJEPC and PCCCC Meet to Address Customs Clearance Challenges
On 5th February 2025, the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) hosted a significant meeting at its head office in Mumbai, bringing together Customs House Agents (CHAs) from the Precious Cargo Customs Clearance Centre (PCCCC) and various other stakeholders.
The primary focus of the meeting was to address the ongoing challenges faced in the export and import clearance process, particularly the daily operational hurdles encountered during parcel clearance with customs officials.
The meeting provided a platform for participants to engage in open dialogue and share the various difficulties they face while managing customs procedures. These included issues related to the timeliness of clearance, paperwork discrepancies, communication gaps, and other operational bottlenecks that often delay the smooth transit of goods. The participants discussed these challenges in detail, aiming to identify practical solutions to streamline the entire process.
In response to the discussions, GJEPC has requested all involved stakeholders to compile and submit a comprehensive report outlining the specific challenges faced in customs clearance, as well as providing suggestions for potential system improvements. These reports are expected to play a crucial role in identifying areas that require attention and in formulating effective solutions that will enhance the overall efficiency of the customs operations.
GJEPC aims to use these insights to work closely with the relevant authorities and stakeholders to improve the integration process, ensuring a more seamless experience for businesses involved in the import and export of precious cargo. The initiative is expected to contribute significantly to reducing delays, improving transparency, and boosting the overall efficiency of the jewellery trade’s customs clearance procedures.
National News
Correction In Gold Prices Prompts Margin Calls On Some Bullet‑Repayment Gold Loans
NBFCs, Have Started Shifting Toward EMI Based Gold Loan Products To Reduce LTV Vulnerability
A sharp correction in gold prices over recent months has prompted margin calls on some bullet‑repayment gold loans, while EMI (regular‑instalment) loans have stayed largely insulated; this dynamic and recent RBI rules (effective April 1, 2026) have pushed non‑bank lenders to migrate toward EMI‑based products to reduce future margin‑call risk.
Bullet loans keep principal outstanding until maturity, so a fall in gold’s market value raises the loan‑to‑value (LTV) ratio quickly and can trigger margin calls or demands for extra collateral; lenders have invoked margin calls in some cases as prices fell over five months.
EMI loans reduce outstanding principal every month, creating an equity cushion that buffers the borrower against modest price corrections and so have remained largely unaffected in the recent correction.
Market participants attribute the correction to geopolitical events and renewed concerns about interest‑rate trajectories, which reduced safe‑haven flows and weighed on prices.
Key elements of the new RBI gold‑loan framework (effective April 1, 2026)
- Tiered LTV caps: 85% for loans up to Rs 2.5 lakh, 80% for Rs 2.5–5 lakh, and 75% above Rs 5 lakh. This standardises collateral limits across lenders.
- Requirement that borrowers repay principal and interest within 12 months (ending the widespread practice of rolling by paying only interest) and stricter auction/valuation and borrower‑protection rules (30‑day average or previous‑day price for valuation, faster release of gold on closure, mandated disclosures, auction reserve pricing rules).
- LTV for bullet loans must be calculated on the total amount repayable at maturity, which makes bullet structures less attractive under the new framework.
Industry response and product shift
- Non‑bank lenders (NBFCs, smaller finance companies) have started shifting toward EMI‑based gold‑loan products to reduce LTV vulnerability and margin‑call exposure, and to align with RBI’s consumer‑protection and repayment‑discipline aims.
- Lenders say they can manage risks on short‑term loans and through active LTV monitoring, but the structural incentive now favours EMI schedules because they steadily reduce outstanding balances.
Correction In Gold Prices Prompts Margin Calls On Some Bullet‑Repayment Gold Loans
Global Diamond Markets and Overall Prices Remain Steady
GJEPC Highlights Key Policy Priorities At Hon’ble CIM’s Export Promotion Mission Review Meeting
-
BrandBuzz15 hours agoTanishq’s “Souls in Symphony” Campaign: Celebrating Sisterhood
-
BrandBuzz5 days agoIndriya, Aditya Birla Jewellery, Sets A New Industry Standard With Diamonds Of The Highest Sparkle
-
DiamondBuzz15 hours agoGlobal Diamond Markets and Overall Prices Remain Steady
-
National News13 hours agoCorrection In Gold Prices Prompts Margin Calls On Some Bullet‑Repayment Gold Loans
JewelBuzz is Asia’s First Digital Jewellery Media & India’s No.1 B2B Jewellery Magazine, published by AM Media House. Since 2016, we’ve been the trusted source for jewellery news, market trends, trade insights, exhibitions, podcasts, and brand stories, connecting jewellers, retailers, and industry professionals worldwide.