India Emerges as Asia's Art Market Star Amid Regional Splintering
In 2025, the fine art auction sector in Asia recorded sales of $2.2 billion, a significant decrease from the $5.4 billion peak achieved in 2021, while the annual lot volume remained consistent at 61,000 pieces. The average hammer price saw a decline from $81,000 to $36,000. In India, the median hammer price stood at $10,864, accompanied by an impressive 89 percent sell-through rate. AstaGuru experienced a remarkable 138 percent increase in revenue from fiscal years 2023–24 to 2025–26. Christie's New York achieved a milestone with a $13.4 million sale of M.F. Husain's artwork. Meanwhile, China's price index fell by 37 percent, South Korea's market plummeted by 88 percent, Japan experienced a 50 percent drop since 2016, and Southeast Asia's market remains subdued yet shows growing interest in female artists.
Key facts
- Asia's fine art auction market generated $2.2 billion in total sales in 2025, down from $5.4 billion in 2021.
- Lot volume held steady at roughly 61,000 works sold per year.
- Average hammer price more than halved from $81,000 to $36,000 since 2021.
- India's median hammer price was $10,864 in 2025 with a sell-through rate of 89 percent.
- AstaGuru grew revenue by 138 percent between fiscal years 2023–24 and 2025–26.
- Christie's New York sold a work by M.F. Husain for $13.4 million last year.
- Christie's will hold its first London sale of South Asian modern and contemporary art in seven years on June 11.
- China's price index dropped 37 percent; South Korea's market crashed 88 percent after a 26 percent rise in 2021.
Entities
Artists
- M.F. Husain
Institutions
- Artnet Price Database
- Artnet News
- AstaGuru
- Christie's New York
- Christie's London
Locations
- Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- Korea
- Southeast Asia
- Mumbai
- London
- New York