Exports of cut and polished diamonds from India stood at US$ 2.41 billion in February 2017, a rise of 3.27% as compared to the US$ 2.34 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 46% to US$ 418.99 million from US$ 784.80 mn a year earlier.

Overall exports from the gem and jewellery sector during February 2017 stood at US$ 3.91 billion, a rise of 1.8% over the US$ 3.84 billion exported in the same month the previous year.

Rough imports during the month at US$ 1.51 billion were down 2.9% in value terms compared to US$ 1.55 billion imported during the previous February. In volume terms, 17.8 mn carats of rough were imported during the month, a rise of 14.1% compared to imports of 15.6 mn carats during February ‘16.

Imports of cut and polished diamonds were down 19.8% to US$ 177.89 million in January 2017 from US$ 221.73 million a year earlier.

Exports of gold medallions and coins during the month rose to US$ 436.4 million as against US$ 250.4 million a year earlier. Exports of silver jewellery were up US$ 413 million in February 2017 as compared to US$ 266.13 million last year.

Coloured gemstone exports dropped in February 2017 to US$ 51.29 million as compared to US$ 65.20 million exported a year earlier.

Overall exports from the gem and jewellery sector in India during the first eleven months of fiscal 2017 stood at US$ 38.97 billion, a rise of 9.55% as compared to the US$ 35.57 billion exported in the same period last year.

Exports of cut and polished diamonds for the April 2016-February 2017 period were up 11% to US$ 20.92 billion as compared to US$ 18.84 billion a year earlier.

During the fiscal year to date, import of rough diamonds rose to US$ 15.46 bn, an increase of 22.17% as compared to US$ 12.66 bn a year earlier. In volume terms, imports rose by 10.63% from 123.4 mn cts in April ‘16- February ’17 to 136.5 mn cts in the same period this year. 

Exports of gold jewellery (both studded and plain) rose 4.35% to US$ 7.98 billion during the first eleven months of the current fiscal, as compared to exports of US$ 7.65 billion in the same period last year.

Exports of gold medallions & coins were virtually flat at US$ 4.76 billion in the eleven month period. Silver jewellery exports rose 23% to US$ 3.35 billion and Coloured Gemstones exports dropped 6.75% to US$ 377.62 mn in April ‘16-February ‘17.