The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced new import restrictions on certain precious metal alloys containing gold, as well as colloidal metals and chemical compounds.
The record-breaking surge in gold prices has dimmed the appeal of the retail jewellery demand. The drop in gold imports in January also indicates the pullback in demand.
India's export of gems and jewellery declined to USD 11.10 billion in April-August 2024, compared to USD 12.43 billion during the same period in 2023. This dip comes even as the domestic demand for jewellery remains strong, driven by rising gold imports and changing consumer buying patterns.
The reduction in import duty has ignited a resurgence in gold demand across India. Reports from the recently concluded India International Jewellery Show indicate a substantial increase in order bookings from retailers, particularly in preparation for the upcoming festive and wedding season.
The dragged geopolitical crisis in the Middle East has spurred a rush into safe-haven assets such as gold. Historically, gold, as an asset, is considered a haven as it typically manages to retain or appreciate its underlying value in times of turbulence.
India's jewelry retail sector has surged to USD 80 billion (Rs 6400 billion) in the financial year 24 from USD 50 billion in 2018, according to a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services.
Amit Gupta, a researcher at Kedia Advisory, commented on the phenomenon, stating, "As gold rallied, people are now moving towards silver, resulting in higher imports. Consumption in industrial use has also improved."
Through a notification on Wednesday, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) amended the import policy for unstudded jewellery made of gold, and other articles made of gold to the "restricted" category from earlier “free”.
In 2022, China bought a total of 6.6 tons of Russian gold worth a record USD 386.9 million, including shipments in both unprocessed (3.7 tons) and semi-processed form (2.9 tons).