India's gem and jewellery exports up 7 per cent at Rs72,530 crore

Export of gems and jewellery from the country rose 7.05 per cent to Rs72,529.67 crore in the April 2008-January 2009 period, according to data released by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

Export of gems and jewelery from the country stood at Rs677,549.5 million in the same period last year.

In dollar terms, however, exports declined by 2.29 per cent to $16,387.18-million as compared with $16,771.03 million in the corresponding period last year. This has been due attributed to a rise in the value of the dollar vis-a-vis the rupee. The exchange rate rose to Rs44.26 a dollar in the April 08-January 09 period from Rs40.40 a dollar in April 07-January 08.

Export of cut and polished diamonds rose 6.43 per cent to Rs48,775 crore in April 08-January 09 as against Rs45,827 crore in the same period last year. Export of rough diamonds also increased by 67.10 per cent at Rs2,958 crore as compared with Rs1,770 crore.

Gold jewellery exports from domestic tariff area, on the other hand, fell 18 per cent a year ago to Rs7,917 crore, while exports from special economic zones and export processing zones rose 26.6 per cent to Rs11,059 crore.

The council said the figures for April 08 - January 2009 are provisional and are subject to revision.

Data for January 2008 does not included figures from Chennai MEPZ and Hyderabad. It also does not include data for costume/ fashion jewellery, and sales to foreign tourists, it said.