National News
India’s Gem & Jewellery Exports Drop 11.72% in FY25 Amid Global Pressures
Studded gold and platinum jewellery buck trend with positive growth; CPD and silver exports see sharp declines
India’s gem and jewellery (G&J) exports declined by 11.72% in the financial year 2024-25, totaling USD 28.5 billion, compared to USD 32.28 billion in FY24. The industry grappled with multiple global challenges including sluggish demand in key markets like the US and China, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and rising competition from lab-grown diamonds.
Despite the overall decline, exports of studded gold jewellery rose by 14% year-on-year to USD 6.1 billion, and platinum jewellery exports also saw an uptick of 11.79% to USD 182.75 million. In contrast, exports of cut and polished diamonds (CPD), the sector’s largest component, plummeted 16.75% to USD 13.2 billion, while silver jewellery exports dropped a staggering 40.58% to USD 962 million.
The imposition of a 26% US tariff on certain goods triggered a last-minute surge in exports, with over USD 1 billion worth of shipments sent in the 10 days prior to the tariff’s implementation — a sign of underlying global demand potential.
On the import front, gross G&J imports fell 11.96% to USD 19.6 billion, down from USD 22.2 billion in the previous fiscal year. Imports of rough diamonds, a key raw material, dropped 24.27% in value to USD 10.8 billion, while the volume declined 16.2% to 1,044.34 lakh carats.
Exports of lab-grown polished diamonds were also impacted, declining by 9.64% to USD 1.2 billion.
Gold jewellery exports were relatively stable, recording only a marginal decline of 0.11% to USD 11.21 billion. Of this, plain gold jewellery contributed USD 5.1 billion.
Signs of recovery were visible from January 2025 onwards, with month-on-month growth, although still trailing behind year-on-year figures. Exports in March 2025 were USD 2.5 billion, showing a modest 1.02% growth over February, but slightly below the USD 2.55 billion recorded in March 2024.
Industry players remain cautiously optimistic, citing stabilizing diamond prices and improving market sentiment as early indicators of a turnaround, despite ongoing global uncertainty.
National News
Gold Industry Proposes New Strategy To Cut Imports and Boost Local Economy
Precious Metals Refineries Forum (PMRF) Has Proposed A Two-Track System To Manage Gold More Efficiently
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to reduce gold imports and foreign travel, major Indian bullion and jewellery bodies have submitted a new plan to the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The strategy aims to lower the nation’s trade deficit by tapping into the estimated 30,000 tonnes of gold sitting in Indian households.
This move comes after India’s gold imports jumped 24% to a record $71.9 billion in the 2025-26 financial year, with over 721 tonnes of gold brought into the country.
The New Strategy: Two Separate Systems
The Precious Metals Refineries Forum (PMRF) has proposed a two-track system to manage gold more efficiently:
- For Exporters: Imported gold should be strictly saved for jewellery exporters using one-year Gold Metal Loans (GML).
- For Local Buyers: Domestic demand should be met entirely by recycling household gold. This gold would be collected from citizens, refined locally, and sold back through jewellers and retailers.
Under this plan, people who deposit their idle gold could earn 2% to 2.5% interest, while businesses taking gold loans would pay an interest rate of 3% to 4%.
Fixing Why Past Schemes Failed
Previous government gold schemes failed to gain traction primarily because they left out local jewellers and lacked a proper banking structure. Without a joined-up system, institutions faced high financial risks from changing gold prices.
To fix this, trade bodies are calling for a complete system that includes:
- Direct involvement of trusted local jewellers. The schemes did not take off in the past because jewellers were not part of them. About 10% to 20% of family gold is held as bars or coins.
- Strong bank backing and secure storage vaults across the country.
- Tax incentives, such as removing the 3% GST loss when physical gold is converted into Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR), and offering income tax relief on the interest earned.
Industry Support
Industry experts say a smooth system is already possible. Collection and purity testing centres have confirmed that collected household gold can be processed within 48 hours and safely moved to secure, bank-approved vaults.
Representatives from the Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) recently held discussions with RBI officials to fast-track these changes.
-
GlamBuzz38 minutes agoKalyan Jewellers Returns To Cannes With A Statement In Couture And High Jewellery
-
GlamBuzz2 hours agoAlia Bhatt’s 5 Show-Stopping Looks From Cannes 2026
-
GlamBuzz1 hour agoPriyanka Chopra Jonas Receives Global Vanguard Honor At Gold Gala 2026
-
National News2 hours agoGold Industry Proposes New Strategy To Cut Imports and Boost Local Economy
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.