The gold business is showing scant signs of revival after being severely hit by demonetisation. This is evident as gold imports have only marginally increased from last month. According to data provided by Ahmedabad Air Cargo Complex, gold imports in January were nearly 70% lower than in the same period last year. Imports stood at 2.8 metric tonnes (MT) till Jan 30 this year, against 9.42 MT in January 2016.

Indian households, together the world’s largest hoarders of gold, hold a record 23,000-24,000 tonnes of the prea record 23,000-24,000 tonnes of the precious metal, worth at least $800 billion, despite a sharp fall in international prices from their peaks in 2011, according to a comprehensive study of the Indian market by the London-headquartered World Gold Council (WGC).

The country’s gold demand has been shaken a tad after demonetisation, as some customers feared a crackdown on gold holding as well, but long-term prospects remain bright with demand expected to average at 850-950 per annum by 2020, the WGC said.

A self-imposed cash shortage in India is creating chaos for jewelry retailers in one of the world’s biggest gold-buying countries. Sales are plunging.

A majority of retailers aren’t equipped to accept credit cards because India’s jewelry industry runs mostly on cash, something consumers have a lot less of these days.