According to the Thai Gemstone and Jewelry Institute (GIT), jewelry and gemstone exports increased by 49% in the first 10 months of 2025. By the end of the year, the whole industry is expected to reach a value of equivalent to 800 billion baht, about 22 billion USD, the highest level in two decades.
This breakthrough comes despite the prolonged trade war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the post-COVID-19 impact.
Although the US imposes a 19,9% tax under President Donald Trump's countervailing tax policy, Thai jewelry imports to the US have increased by 20%.
India also continues to be a key market, along with Switzerland, Hong Kong (China), Italy and the UK.
The Chinese market remains stable, despite slowing down in the high-end diamond jewelry segment.
Mr. Sumed Prasongpongchai - General Director of GIT - said that jewelry and gemstones are currently the third largest export industry in Thailand. In October alone, the export value reached 35 billion baht, equivalent to about 11 billion USD, far exceeding the initial forecast.
To maintain growth momentum and enhance national position, GIT will deploy a series of new standards in 2026, focusing on transparency, governance and sustainability.
GIT's main initiatives for 2026 include: GIT 3001 standard - risk management and supply chain verification standard; Certificate of the Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC) - global governance standard of the jewelry industry; carbon footprint certificate for businesses (CFO) - a tool to help businesses monitor environmental impacts, in line with international sustainability trends.
Currently, GIT has trained more than 300 enterprises, of which 40 enterprises are supported according to the Review - Improvement - Audit process to achieve international certifications. However, due to the very strict RJC standards, only 107 Thai enterprises have passed this certification.
GIT is proposing to accept JTI standards as the minimum for small and medium enterprises, to help them not be eliminated from the global supply chain.
Despite global challenges, the Thai jewelry and gemstone industry continues to accelerate strongly, proving its resilience and significant adaptability.
With a strategy to upgrade the entire ecosystem, Thailand aims to become the world's leading sustainable jewelry trading center, strengthening its position in this tens of billions of USD industry.
