India's polished diamond exports have plummeted to their lowest level in nearly two decades, marking a significant downturn in the fiscal year 2024-25. This decline is primarily attributed to sluggish demand from key markets such as the U.S. and China, which have historically been crucial for India's diamond industry. The Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) reported that exports of cut and polished diamonds fell by 16.8% year-on-year to $13.3 billion, impacting overall gem and jewelry exports, which dropped by 11.7% to $28.5 billion.
Key Highlights:
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Market Challenges: Weak demand from the U.S. and China, coupled with geopolitical tensions and economic instability, has severely impacted India's diamond exports.
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Rough Diamond Imports: The reduced demand for polished diamonds led to a 24.3% decrease in rough diamond imports, totaling $10.8 billion.
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March Export Surge: Despite the overall decline, exports saw a slight increase in March due to exporters rushing to fulfill U.S. orders ahead of potential tariffs.
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Government Initiatives: The introduction of the Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) scheme aims to boost India's diamond industry competitiveness by simplifying import processes and supporting MSMEs.
These developments highlight the challenges facing India's diamond sector but also underscore efforts to revitalize it through strategic government initiatives.
Source: Economic Times, Reuters, Indian Jeweller.