Budget 2013: India keeps gold import duty steady

Bionous

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posted on 11 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Gold imports have already surpassed $38 billion, the forecast a year ago for the entire fiscal year to March 31.

New Delhi: India held its gold import duty unchanged in Thursday's budget, defying industry expectations that the world's biggest bullion buyer would increase rates to curb demand and rein in a record current account deficit. The government could still raise the duty if imports do not ease in response to a January hike to 6 per cent from 4 per cent.

Traders had expected the budget to usher in a levy of 8 per cent. "It is good the government has not imposed any restrictions or any further duty hike on bullion," said Prithviraj Kothari, director of RiddiSiddhi Bullions Ltd, whose imports of 100 tonnes of the precious metal accounted for about a tenth of India's total in 2012.

"If any data shows a further increase in current account deficit, they might hike the import duty," he added. India, the world's top gold consumer, imports almost all it needs.

Gold imports have already surpassed $38 billion, the forecast a year ago for the entire fiscal year to March 31, and Finance Minister P Chidambaram has urged Indians to moderate buying to reduce pressure on the rupee currency. Recent falls in gold prices have undermined Chidambaram's efforts.

Domestic gold prices have dropped about 3 per cent since January 21, when the government hiked import duties. Demand jumped on Wednesday as buyers hoped to pre-empt any budget duty hike.

India's imports of gold, second only to oil in value, contributed to a widening of the current account deficit to a record high 5.4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the July-Sept quarter of the current fiscal year to March 2013. A safe level for the current account deficit would be 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent of GDP, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said after Chidambaram announced the budget.

But the budget did raise to 100,000 rupees the maximum value of jewellery that may be brought home by Indian women who have lived abroad for more than a year, or who are changing residence, from 20,000 rupees earlier. In the longer term, the government says, lowering inflation and offering alternative avenues for investment could help reduce demand for gold.