Coronavirus: Surat diamond industry stares at Rs 8,000-cr loss

Surat, February 5

Hong Kong is a major business hub for the Surat diamond industry, but schools and colleges have been closed there till the first week of March and even the businesses are seeing a dip in view of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

According to Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) regional chairman Dinesh Navadiya, polished diamonds worth around Rs 50,000 crore are exported from Surat to Hong Kong every year.

“That’s around 37% of the total exports are from here. Now, due to coronavirus scare, Hong Kong has declared a month-long vacation. Gujarati traders having offices there are coming back to India,” he said.

If the situation does not improve, it will have a huge impact on the Surat diamond industry, which polishes 99% of all rough diamonds imported in the country, he said.

“The Surat diamond industry is staring at a loss of around Rs 8,000 crore for February and March,” he added.

Another industry expert and diamond merchant Pravin Nanavati said there is a possibility of cancellation of an international jewellery exhibition in Hong Kong, to be held next month, due to the coronoavirus scare, which would hit the jewellery business in Surat.

“Polished diamonds and jewellery made in Surat reach across the world through Hong Kong only. Now, due to vacation there, our business is totally closed. Traders are also returning to India,” he said.

If the situation does not improve, the Surat diamond trade losses may run into “several thousand crores”, he said.

“We have been informed that the international exhibition in Hong Kong may be put off due to the coronavirus scare. We sell huge quantity of diamonds at the mega event,” Nanavati said.

Orders are also placed at the event and the entire year’s manufacturing targets are set, based on the response that Surat diamond traders get there, he said. — PTI