India’s export volume of polished lab growns has overtaken that of natural diamonds for the first time.India’s diamond export industry has crossed a historic threshold, with the volume of polished lab-grown diamonds surpassing natural diamonds for the first time. However, a massive pricing disparity ensures that mined gems still command the financial throne.

According to newly released data from the GJEPC for the fiscal year ending March 2026, lab-grown exports surged by nearly 31% to reach 18.84 million carats. Conversely, natural diamond exports contracted by roughly 4%, slipping to 16.00 million carats.

During the fiscal period, natural diamonds accounted for an export volume of 16.00 million carats, with an average price of $760 per carat, generating total fiscal revenue of $12.16 billion. In comparison, lab-grown diamonds recorded a higher export volume of 18.84 million carats; however, with an average price of only $60 per carat, they generated significantly lower total fiscal revenue of US$1.13 billion. While lab-grown diamonds surpassed natural diamonds in volume terms, natural diamonds continued to dominate in overall export value due to their substantially higher price realization per carat.

Despite the revenue gap, the volume flip highlights an astronomical growth trajectory; a decade ago, in fiscal 2015-16, India exported a mere 10,000 carats of lab-grown diamonds. Early data for April 2026 indicates this trend is locking in, with lab-grown volumes edging past naturals at 1.36 million carats to 1.34 million carats, respectively.