India restricts silver bar imports, mandating govt authorisation after duty hike

New import restrictions on silver bars, layered atop a steep duty hike, will tighten bullion supply chains and pressure silver-heavy jewellery retailers including Tanishq, Kalyan, and Malabar. Sourcing costs and inventory planning face near-term disruption ahead of festive demand.

— Source publishedSat, 16 May, 2026, 21:00 IST·First seen Sat, 16 May, 2026, 21:32 IST·Source BL · Consumer & Economy

What happened

Government of India · India has restricted silver bar imports, mandating government authorization following a steep duty hike. The move aims to curb trade

Why this matters

Tightened silver import rules favor players with domestic refining tie-ups or scrap-recycling channels, opening M&A angles in upstream bullion sourcing.

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