Gems, jewellery exports decline 4.65% in April-December 2017

The country's gems and jewellery exports contracted by 4.65 per cent to about US$25 billion during April-December this fiscal owing to demand slowdown in major markets, including the US.

According to the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) data, exports stood at US$26.1 billion in the same period last year.

The labour-intensive sector contributes about 14 per cent to the country's overall export.

The drop in shipments is mainly due to negative growth in the export of gold jewellery and gold medallions and coins.

The industry has asked for support in terms of increasing incentives under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) to boost the shipments.

Blockage of working capital due to GST is impacting exports, a GJEPC official, who do not wish to named, said.

As per the data, gold jewellery shipments during April- December 2017-18 dipped by 4 per cent to US$7 billion.

Similarly, export of gold medallions and coins contracted by about 55 per cent during the period.

However, silver jewellery exports went up 16.28 per cent to US$3.11 billion during the nine-month period of the current fiscal.

Shipments of cut and polished diamonds reported a growth of just 1.85 per cent.

India's main export destinations are the U.S., Europe, Japan and China. America accounts for about one-fourth of the country s total gems and jewellery exports.

During the nine-month period of the current fiscal, consignments worth US$5.82 billion were returned compared with US$5.83 billion during the same period previous year.

China is the biggest competitor of India in the sector.

On the other hand, import of rough diamonds rose 10.87 per cent to about US$14 billion in April-December period.

Import of gold bars too increased by about 13 per cent to US$3.87 billion.