Surge in silver jewellery imports from Thailand spurs DGFT to impost strict restrictions

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has restricted the import of plain silver jewellery unless expressly authorised in a bid to curb misuse of India’s various Free Trade Agreements, the government announced. An analysis by The Hindu found most of these imports were coming from Thailand. The notification was issued late evening on September 24, 2025. 

“The move, announced through Notification No. 34/2025-26 dated September 24, 2025, aims to curb the misuse of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and address large-scale imports of silver in the guise of finished jewellery,” the Ministry of Commerce said in an official statement following the issue of the notification.

According to the DGFT, these restrictions have been introduced in light of the steep rise in the import of plain silver jewellery in the April-June 2025 quarter as compared to the same quarter of the previous year. 

An analysis by The Hindu of the monthly trade data made available by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed that India’s imports of silver jewellery increased to $235.1 million in April-June 2025 from $63.4 million in the same quarter of the previous year, a 270.6% increase.

The analysis further shows that the overwhelming bulk of these imports came from Thailand. Where India imported $50.9 million worth of silver jewellery from Thailand in April-June 2025, that value increased by 330% to $219 million in the same quarter of this year.

This trend continued in July 2025 as well. Total imports of silver jewellery in July 2025 increased to $148.5 million from $41.8 million in July 2024, a 255.6% increase. With this, imports from Thailand increased 288.5% to $142.7 million in July 2025.

“The imports circumventing the provisions of FTA were adversely affecting domestic manufacturers and posing a challenge to employment in the jewellery sector,” the Commerce Ministry said. 

Under the new framework, the import of plain silver jewellery will now be permitted only against a valid import authorisation issued by the DGFT, thereby allowing genuine trade while preventing unfair practices.

“The government believes that the decision will provide a level playing field to India’s jewellery manufacturers, safeguard the interests of small and medium businesses, and secure livelihood opportunities for workers in the sector,” the statement added.