India's gems exports shine, up nearly 20% in November—even with US tariffs
India's gems and jewelry exports hit $2.5 billion in November, jumping almost 20% from last year.
The boost came mostly from cut and polished diamonds, studded gold jewelry, silver pieces, and even lab-grown diamonds.
What drove the growth?
Exports of cut and polished diamonds shot up to $920 million, while studded gold jewelry reached $829 million—both big leaps from last year.
Silver jewelry exports more than tripled to nearly $198 million.
Lab-grown diamond shipments also grew by over 10%, indicating continued growth in the segment.
How did India pull this off?
Even though US demand slowed down thanks to steep tariffs (almost 50%), steady orders from Hong Kong, China, and the Middle East kept things moving.
GJEPC Chairman Kirit Bhansali credited better silver supply chains and more local work on gold-studded pieces for helping the sector bounce back.
Why does it matter?
Overall merchandise exports also grew in November, shrinking India's trade deficit.
Despite global ups and downs, the gems sector is proving its strength—and that gives India a stronger hand in international trade talks.