Exports of cut and polished diamonds from India remained virtually flat in July 2016, rising by a marginal 0.85%, year-on-year. The country exported US$ 1.652 billion worth of goods as compared to the US$ 1.638 bn in the same month a year ago, according to the provisional data released by The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). Gold jewellery exports (studded and plain) for July 2016 rose by 7.94% to US$ 531.01 mn as against US$ 491.95 mn a year earlier.

Overall exports from the gem and jewellery sector during July 2016 stood at US$ 3.08 billion, a growth of 4.89% over the US$ 2.99 billion exported in the same month the previous year.

Rough imports during the month at US$ 1.39 billion were up 27.26% in value terms from US$ 1.09 billion the previous July. In volume terms, 11.44 mn carats of rough were imported during the month, a growth of 22.2% compared with the imports of 9.36 mn carats during July ‘15.

Imports of cut and polished diamonds rose by 2.09% to US$ 272.45 million in July 2016 from US$ 266.87 million a year earlier.

Exports of silver jewellery remained flat at US$ 338.58 million in July 2016 as compared to US$ 340.84 million last year.

Coloured gemstone exports in July 2016 remained flat at US$ 20.14 million as compared to US$ 20.80 million exported a year earlier.

Overall exports from the gem and jewellery sector in India during the first four months of fiscal 2017 stood at US$ 13.67 billion, a rise of 9.46 % as compared to the US$ 12.49 billion exported in the same period last year.

During the fiscal year to date, exports of cut and polished diamonds were up by 5.24% to US$ 7.25 bn, while import of rough rose to US$ 6.00 bn, an increase of 13.27%. In volume terms, imports rose by 11.80% from 44.52 mn cts in April-July 2015 to 49.78 mn cts in April-2016. 

Gold jewellery (studded and plain) exports rose by 18.65% to US$ 2.97 billion in the first four months of FY 2017, while that of medallions & coins declined to US$ 1.48 billion in the same period.

Silver jewellery exports rose to US$ 1.31 billion and Coloured Gemstones exports dropped 7.46% to US$ 120.72 mn in April-July 2016.