Lab-Grown Diamond Exports Jump 40.7% in September; Polished Diamond Exports Slip

Ahmedabad: India’s gross gem and jewellery exports rose 9.4% year on year to $3 billion in September 2026, driven by growth in gold jewellery and polished lab-grown diamonds, according to data released by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

Gold jewellery exports surged 34% year on year to $1.2 billion during the month. Exports of studded gold jewellery jumped 50.2% to $812.6 million, while shipments of plain gold jewellery increased 8.8% to $378 million.

Cut and polished diamond exports, however, declined 5.4% to $1.3 billion in September. In contrast, polished lab-grown diamond exports surged 40.7% to $151.4 million.

Silver jewellery exports fell 12.5% to $134.5 million during the month, while platinum jewellery exports edged up 1.3% to $23 million. Coloured gemstone exports declined 7.4% to $74.9 million.

During April–September 2026, India’s gem and jewellery exports increased 3.1% to $14.3 billion compared with the corresponding period last year. In rupee terms, exports rose 13.4% to ₹1.4 lakh crore in the first half of the 2026–27 financial year.

Gold jewellery exports, including plain and studded jewellery, increased 11.4% to $6.3 billion during the six-month period. Studded gold jewellery exports surged 31.3% to $3.7 billion, while plain gold jewellery exports declined 8.8% to $2.5 billion.

GJEPC chairperson Kirit Bhansali said growth in studded gold jewellery exports was supported by improved market access through free trade agreements, lower US tariffs and stronger demand in markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore and France.

Cut and polished diamond exports fell 7% in dollar terms to $5.8 billion during the first half of the financial year. However, export volumes rose 4.6% to 8.4 million carats from 8.03 million carats in the corresponding period a year earlier. In rupee terms, exports increased 2.3% to ₹55,336 crore.

Polished lab-grown diamond exports recorded stronger growth, rising 17.1% to $685.1 million during the six-month period. Silver jewellery exports climbed 23.1% to $729.3 million, while platinum jewellery exports increased 15.8% to $123.3 million. Coloured gemstone exports, however, declined 3.8% to $227.6 million. DeshGujarat