National News
Smuggled Gold Distorting India’s Bullion Market
Sharp Rise In Smuggled Gold, Driven Largely By The May 2026 Hike In Import Duty To 15%, Which Has Made The Grey Market Significantly Cheaper Than Legal Channels and Squeezed Legitimate Dealers and Jewellers
India’s bullion market is being skewed by a sharp rise in smuggled gold, driven largely by the May 2026 hike in import duty to 15%, which has made the grey market significantly cheaper than legal channels and squeezed legitimate dealers and jewellers.
Market distortion and price gap
- Smuggled gold is now selling at discounts of up to Rs 8,000 per 10 grams compared with official prices, creating a wide arbitrage that undercuts compliant traders.
- Industry executives warn that this price gap is a clear signal of an active grey market, disadvantaging genuine bullion dealers and organised jewellers who pay full duty and taxes.
Scale of illegal inflows
- Industry estimates suggest more than 100 tonnes of gold could enter India through illegal channels in 2026, echoing past surges in smuggling after earlier duty hikes.
- Despite the higher tariff, India’s gold import bill rose 24% to a record $71.9 billion in FY26, even as physical volumes fell to about 721 tonnes, indicating persistent demand being met partly via unofficial routes.
Enforcement response
- Revenue intelligence agencies, particularly the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), have intensified operations against organised smuggling networks using airports, land borders, coastal routes and domestic road transport
National News
Gold prices in India extend recovery on softer U.S. dollar, easing Treasury yields, lower crude oil prices.
Market participants attributed the firming metal prices to a pause in U.S. yield gains following strong demand at the latest 30-year U.S. Treasury auction, which relieved pressure on non-yielding assets.
Gold prices in India extended their recovery on Saturday, with 24-carat gold climbing back above the 151,000 rupee mark per 10 grams, supported by a softer U.S. dollar, easing Treasury yields, and lower crude oil prices.
The domestic benchmark rate for 24K gold rose by 710 rupees, or approximately 0.47%, to 151,420 rupees per 10 grams. For bulk purchases, 100 grams of 24K gold stood at 1,514,200 rupees, up 7,100 rupees from the previous session.
Jewellery-grade 22K gold advanced by 650 rupees to 138,800 rupees per 10 grams, while 18K gold climbed 540 rupees to hit 113,570 rupees per 10 grams. Per sovereign (8 grams), 24K gold traded at 121,136 rupees and 22K gold at 111,040 rupees.
The rebound follows a volatile week for bullion. Over the past four sessions, 24K gold has climbed nearly 1.5%, gaining roughly 2,240 rupees from 149,180 rupees on Oct. 6. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures rebounded above 151,000 rupees after dipping toward the 149,000 rupee level earlier in the week.
In international markets, spot gold traded near $4,174.78 an ounce after recovering from $4,118.63 in the previous session and briefly breaching $4,200. International spot silver surged over 2% to trade around $60.40 an ounce, driving domestic silver rates in India to approximately 235,000 rupees per kilogram.
Market participants attributed the firming metal prices to a pause in U.S. yield gains following strong demand at the latest 30-year U.S. Treasury auction, which relieved pressure on non-yielding assets.
However, analysts warned that near-term gains may remain capped due to expectations surrounding Federal Reserve monetary policy.The key constraint is the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance, with policymakers signaling that further tightening may be necessary to bring inflation back to target.
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