India's Apr-Jan gems, jewellery exports up 7%

India's gem and jewellery exports rose by 7.05 per cent to Rs 72,529.67 crore in the April-January 2009 period, according a Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) data.

Exports of gem and jewellery stood at Rs 67,754.95 crore in the same period last fiscal.

However, exports in dollar terms declined by 2.29 per cent to $16,387.18 million as compared to $16,771.03 million in the same period last year.

The exchange rate stood at Rs 44.26 per dollar in the April 08-January 09 period as compared to Rs 40.40 a dollar in the April 07-Jan 08 period, it said.

The cut and polished diamond exports increased by 6.43 per cent to Rs 48,775 crore in April 08-January 09 as against Rs 45,827 crore in the same period last year. The export of rough diamonds also increased by as much as 67.10 per cent at Rs 2,958 crore as compared to Rs 1,770 crore.

Gold jewellery exports from domestic tariff area fell 18 per cent a year ago to Rs 7,917 crore, while exports from special economic zones and export processing zones rose 26.60 per cent to Rs 11,059 crore.