Exports of cut and polished diamonds from India stood at US$ 1.62 billion in January 2017, a rise of 2.9% as compared to the US$ 1.57 bn in the same month a year earlier, according to provisional data released by The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). Exports of gold jewellery (both studded and plain), during the month declined by 25% to US$ 397.71 million from US$ 530.33 mn a year earlier.

Overall exports from the gem and jewellery sector during January 2017 stood at US$ 2.97 billion, a marginal dip of 1% over the US$ 3 billion exported in the same month the previous year.

Rough imports during the month at US$ 1.27 billion were up 27.7% in value terms compared to US$ 990.55 million imported during the previous January. In volume terms, 15.29 mn carats of rough were imported during the month, a rise of 24.8% compared to imports of 12.25 mn carats during January ‘16.

Imports of cut and polished diamonds were down 13.1% to US$ 171.46 million in January 2017 from US$ 197.34 million a year earlier.

Exports of gold medallions and coins during the month rose to US$ 496.5 million as against US$ 455 million a year earlier. Exports of silver jewellery were down to US$ 253.6 million in January 2017 as compared to US$ 266.21 million last year.

Coloured gemstone exports rose 11% in January 2017 to US$ 41.43 million as compared to US$ 37.01 million exported a year earlier.

Overall exports from the gem and jewellery sector in India during the first ten months of fiscal 2017 stood at US$ 35.03 billion, a rise of 10.60% as compared to the US$ 31.67 billion exported in the same period last year.

Exports of cut and polished diamonds for the April 2016-January 2017 period were up 12.09% to US$ 18.50 billion as compared to US$ 16.51 billion a year earlier.

During the fiscal year to date, import of rough diamonds rose to US$ 13.95 bn, an increase of 25.61% as compared to US$ 11.11 bn a year earlier. In volume terms, imports rose by 10.12% from 107.81 mn cts in April ‘16- January ’17 to 118.71 mn cts in the same period this year. 

Exports of gold jewellery (both studded and plain) rose 10.69% to US$ 7.53 billion during the first ten months of the current fiscal, as compared to exports of US$ 6.80 billion in the same period last year.

Exports of gold medallions & coins declined 4.23% to US$ 4.33 billion in the ten month period. Silver jewellery exports rose 16.37% to US$ 2.94 billion and Coloured Gemstones exports dropped 3.95% to US$ 326.33 mn in April ‘16-January ‘17.