Gold imports pick up in September

Rise to 7.24 tonne in over three weeks in September, up from 3.38 tonne in August

Gold imports into India, the world's biggest buyer of the metal, rose to 7.24 tonne in over three weeks in September, up from 3.38 tonne in August, the finance ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The September figure was way below the record 162 tonne in May, which prompted the federal government to raise import taxes to 10% and tie exports to domestic consumption, under the so called 80/20 import rule.

India, battling with a record high trade deficit and a weak currency, is trying to curb imports of the dollar-denominated gold, the most expensive non-essential item in its import bill.