Exports of gem and jewellery stood at Rs 67,754.95 crore in the April 07-Jan 08 period.

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

The exchange rate stood at Rs 44.26 per US dollar in the April 08-January 09 period as compared to Rs 40.40 per US dollar in the April07-Jan 08 period, it said.

The cut and polished diamond exports increased by 6.43 per cent at 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 a whopping 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.

On a combined basis, gold jewellery exports were Rs 18,976 crore, up 2.88 per cent from a year ago, while in dollar terms it fell 6.09 per cent at USD 4,287-million, GJEPC said.

Apr-Jan exports of coloured gemstones rose 13.16 per cent to Rs 1,023 crore.

The net imports of rough diamonds fell by 4.63 per cent at Rs 31,805 crore in April-January 09 period as compared to Rs 33,349 crore in the same period last year.

The cut and polished diamond imports, however, rose by 53.88 per cent at Rs 26,2520 crore as compared to Rs 17,059 crore in the same period last year.