National News
Gudi Padwa jewellery sales flat; demand for gold coins surges
Gold prices have surged to nearly Rs 90,000 per 10 grams (excluding GST) in the physical market, leading to a noticeable decline in jewellery sales in Maharashtra/Goa during Gudi Padwa, a festival traditionally associated with gold purchases. Despite this, demand for gold coins as an investment remains strong, as consumers anticipate further price appreciation. Mumbai’s largest gold hub has observed a shift in consumer behavior toward gold coins and bars. Traders said that buyers are purchasing gold coins with the expectation of future price increases.
As of Gudi Padwa, gold prices have reached nearly Rs 90,000 per 10 grams, making gold jewellery significantly more expensive. Higher prices have deterred traditional jewellery buyers, shifting demand towards investment-oriented purchases, such as gold coins. Industry experts anticipate that gold prices may continue to rise, reinforcing gold’s status as a long-term store of value.
Equal demand was observed between gold jewellery and investment-grade coins. Retailers introduced discounts and exchange offers, but high prices still impacted sales volume.Tier-2 cities experienced similar trends, with more gold coin buyers than jewellery shoppers. Lightweight jewellery, silver accessories, and gold-plated ornaments saw higher traction compared to heavy gold jewellery.
Global trade tensions and potential U.S. Fed rate cuts are boosting gold’s attractiveness as an investment. Investors are shifting towards gold due to its historical role as a hedge against inflation and economic instability The Indian Rupee’s performance against the U.S. Dollar is also a contributing factor to local gold price fluctuations.
National News
WGC India Gold Market Update: Import Tightening
Part Of A Broader Push To Conserve Foreign Exchange Reserves Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty and Mounting Pressure On The INR
Highlights
- Gold import duty was raised sharply by 9%– from 6% to 15%, the steepest increase on record – alongside broader regulatory tightening
- Domestic gold prices have not yet fully reflected the duty hike amid weak demand and ample supply; local markets are currently in deep discount from the landed price
- Past trends indicate that higher duty increases unofficial inflows, although official imports remain relatively resilient
- Gold demand is expected to moderate in 2026, with jewellery and bar and coin demand projected to decline by 50–60t (~10% y/y) on account of the import duty hike.
Policy actions on gold imports
Since early April, the government has adopted a series of measures aimed at moderating gold imports. These have been part of a broader push to conserve foreign exchange reserves amid geopolitical uncertainty and mounting pressure on the INR, which has depreciated by more than 7% y-t-d. These measures include price-based actions, administrative and regulatory tightening, and consumer-directed messaging. While noteworthy, they are not unprecedented; gold is among the top five imports for India, accounting for 8% of the country’s merchandise imports in 2025, and similar measures have been utilised in the past.
On the price front, the gold import duty was raised sharply from 6% to 15%, making it the single largest increase on record and fully reversing the duty cut of July 2024. Rules were also tightened for gold imports linked to exports (under the advance authorisation scheme), and the Prime Minister has directly appealed to consumers, urging them to avoid buying gold for a year.
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