National News
Retail Gold Sales Drop 25% Amid Rising Prices, Lightweight Jewelry in Demand
A 4% rise in gold prices in March has led to a significant 25% decline in retail gold sales at jewelers and a 60% drop in Zaveri Bazaar. Indian families with upcoming weddings are feeling the pinch of higher gold prices, turning to lighter, lower-carat jewelry to meet bridal jewelry demands. Despite this, demand is expected to pick up during Akshay Tritiya in April, though lightweight jewelry remains the preferred choice.
Gold prices saw a near-4% increase in the first half of March, bringing down retail sales by 25% compared to the same period last year. Zaveri Bazaar, a hub where retail jewellers buy bullion and jewelry in bulk, saw a 60% drop in sales.
Senco Gold & Diamonds, Joy Alukkas, PNG Jewellers, Mamraj Musaddilal Jewellers, and senior executives from the India Bullion & Jewellers Association mentioned that Indian families, especially those with weddings planned for the upcoming season, are stressed by the escalating prices. As a result, they are opting for lightweight jewelry, as high prices make it difficult to stick to the traditional gold jewelry budgets.
Suvankar Sen, the chief of Senco Gold, shared that sales of small-ticket gold jewelry in the ₹30,000 – ₹40,000 price range have dried up. “The high prices are keeping customers away from spending on gold,” he said. On March 18, gold was priced at ₹88,256 per 10 gm in the physical market, with a 3% Goods and Services Tax (GST), pushing the cost to ₹90,903 per 10 gm.
“Those who have weddings in the family are buying lightweight jewellery as they cannot stretch the budget. Demand has dropped by 15% beginning from March and if this rally continues, the recovery in demand may not happen. The next big sales can only happen during Akshay Tritiya, which falls on April 30,” said the MD of Senco Gold & Diamond.
Despite the rise in prices, the demand has remained sluggish in South India too. “Compared to last March, demand is down by up to 25%. While the high price is a big factor in this demand drop, other things like board exams have slowed down demand as well,” said Baby George, CEO of Joy Alukkas.
Saurabh Gadgil, chairman of PNG Jewellers, also highlighted the shift in preferences. “People are buying lightweight jewellery, and many are exchanging old gold jewellery with new ones. The volumes are getting impacted but value-wise the jewellers are not facing any issue.”
Avinash Gupta, partner at Hyderabad-based Mamraj Musaddilal Jewellers, noted that while demand has softened, it hasn’t reached alarming levels. “Demand will bounce back in April due to weddings and Akshaya Tritiya, but definitely the preference will shift to lightweight and lower caratage jewellery.”
National News
Malabar Gold & Diamonds Executes First Jewellery Export To The UK Under India–UK Trade Agreement
Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the world’s fourth largest jewellery retailer and a responsible jeweller, has exported jewellery to the United Kingdom under the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. With this, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has become one of the first Indian jewellers to export jewellery to the UK under the agreement. This marks a significant milestone in the company’s international growth journey as well as in India’s jewellery export sector.
The inauguration ceremony for Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ jewellery exports to the UK under the India–UK Trade Agreement was held at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. The event was attended by British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, Malabar Gold & Diamonds North India Regional Head Mohammed Jishad N.K., representatives of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), and senior government officials.
The India–UK Trade Agreement will help strengthen economic cooperation between India and the United Kingdom while creating new opportunities for the Indian jewellery industry, said M.P. Ahammed, Chairman of Malabar Group.
M.P. Ahammed Added:
“It is a matter of great pride for Malabar Gold & Diamonds to be among the first jewellers to export under this agreement. Following the philosophy of ‘Make in India, Market to the World,’ we have been consistently striving to take Indian craftsmanship to global markets. This has also enabled us to create large-scale employment opportunities. Our first export to the UK is a proud milestone for both us and the Indian jewellery industry. It will help us further strengthen our supply chain, deliver greater value to customers, and enhance our competitiveness in the UK market.
We see this as the beginning of stronger trade relations between India and the United Kingdom. Even as we expand our business globally, we remain committed to ensuring the highest standards of quality, trust, and responsible business practices,”
Malabar Gold & Diamonds has planned significant business expansion in the UK, the US, Canada, and other countries through its Western Value Chain. In addition to its existing presence, the company plans to open more than 30 new showrooms in these markets. By becoming a part of the India–UK Trade Agreement from its very inception, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has further reinforced its commitment to leveraging new opportunities in global markets through responsible sourcing while adhering to international quality standards and regulatory requirements.
With more than 445 showrooms across 14 countries, Malabar Gold & Diamonds continues to strengthen India’s position in the global jewellery industry by bringing world-class jewellery designs and superior manufacturing excellence to international markets.
Malabar Gold & Diamonds Executes First Jewellery Export To The UK Under India–UK Trade Agreement
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