India–UK FTA takes effect July 15, opening zero-duty path for gem and jewellery exports

GJEPC projects India's gem and jewellery exports to the UK could triple from $754M to $2.5B under the FTA's 99% zero-duty access. Diamond, silver and lab-grown segments stand to gain, with 20 Indian manufacturers meeting 50+ UK buyers as the pact comes into force.

— Source publishedWed, 8 Jul, 2026, 17:37 IST·First seen Wed, 8 Jul, 2026, 17:58 IST·Source ET Small Business

What happened

India-UK FTA effective July 15 grants duty-free access for Indian gem and jewellery exports to the UK, with GJEPC projecting exports tripling from $754M to

Key facts

  • $754 million current exports
  • $2.5 billion projected exports
  • $7 billion sector bilateral trade
  • 99% zero-duty access
  • $3.83 billion total sector trade 2025
  • $56 billion to $120 billion bilateral trade by 2030-31
  • 20 Indian manufacturers
  • 50+ UK buyers

Why this matters

Consider UK distribution partnerships or acquisitions to capture the projected $1.75B export upside, leveraging the 50+ buyer connections forming as the pact takes effect.

What to watch

  • First 2-3 quarters of India-UK jewellery export data vs $754M base
  • Actual duty-free utilization rate and rules-of-origin rejection incidents
  • UK consumer demand indicators and GBP/INR moves affecting price advantage
  • Lab-grown diamond price trajectory and margin sustainability
  • Order-book announcements from listed exporters citing UK FTA
  • Large listed jewellers (Titan/Tanishq, Kalyan, Senco, PC Jeweller) evaluate UK retail and export desks
  • GJEPC organizes recurring buyer-seller meets and trade delegations to convert leads
  • Exporters shift product mix toward lab-grown diamonds and silver to maximize zero-duty margin
  • Competitor hubs (Belgium/Antwerp, Dubai) reassess pricing to defend UK share
  • SME manufacturers seek working-capital and compliance support for rules-of-origin