RBI imposes more curbs on gold imports

05 Jun 2013 Evaluate

In a move aimed at curtailing demand for the precious metal for domestic use amid widening current account deficit (CAD), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the restrictions on gold import to other agencies in addition to banks. The provisions of earlier issued May 13 circular has now been extended to nominated agencies/ premier / star trading houses and accordingly any import of gold on consignment basis by both nominated agencies and banks shall now be permissible only to meet the needs of exporters of gold jewellery with immediate effect.

The central bank has also said that all Letters of Credit (LC) to be opened by nominated banks and agencies for import of gold ‘under all categories will be only on 100 per cent cash margin basis.’ Further, all imports of gold will necessarily have to be on ‘Documents against Payment (DP)’ basis as the imports on ‘Documents against Acceptance (DA)’ will not be permitted. However, the restrictions will not apply to import of gold to meet the needs of exporters of gold jewellery.

To reduce gold import, the government and RBI together have been taking steps, mainly to curb the surging CAD, which has hit a record high of 6.7% of GDP in the third quarter of 2012-13. Gold import during the first two months of the current fiscal are estimated at $15 billion. Gold imports by India, the world's largest consumer stood at 860 tonnes in 2012.

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