India Now Exports More Lab Grown Carats than Natural
May 26, 26
(IDEX Online) - India's export volume of polished lab growns has overtaken that of natural diamonds for the first time.
The tipping point came during the year to March 2026, according to figures published by the GJEPC (Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council).
Lab grown exports surged almost 31% to 18.84 million carats during the year, compared to natural exports of 16.00 million carats, a decline of almost 4%.
The huge price gap between the two - average $760 per carat for natural compared to $60 per carat for lab grown - means it's still revenue from natural diamonds that drives the industry.
It was $12.16 billion for the year, compared to $95.52 million for lab growns.
But the shift shows how far India's polished diamond export business has moved toward lab growns. In 2015-16, India exporÂted just 10,000 carÂats of polÂished lab-growns.
Figures for last month suggest the trend - lab grown volumes outpacing natural - is continuing. Lab grown sales for April 2026 were 1.36 million carats, according to GJEPC, compared to 1.34 million for natural.