China's Gold Imports Hit Two-Year High as Investors Buy the Dip
By Aboki Forex —
Chinese gold imports surged to a two-year high in June, driven by a sharp drop in international prices and a strengthening yuan. Overseas purchases rose for a third straight month to about 173 tons, the highest since March 2024, according to the latest customs data.
Cheaper Prices and Stronger Yuan Fuel Demand
The slump in global bullion prices encouraged Chinese investors to buy the dip. A stronger yuan also kept retail interest alive. Banks, meanwhile, rushed to use up their import quotas and stock up on bullion to meet retail commitments.
“Investors buying the dip is an important driver of recent demand,” said Zijie Wu, an analyst at Jinrui Futures Co. “Commercial banks need to build up their inventories to provide the physical backing for retail bullion sales and gold accumulation plans, as well as preserving some safety reserve for when demand spikes.”
Retail and ETF Demand Adds to Pressure
Gold accumulation plans, offered by numerous Chinese banks, allow individuals to buy gold in small increments. They remain one of the main ways for retail investors to gain exposure to bullion. Bullion-backed exchange traded funds have also seen net inflows of about 28 tons this year, according to a tally by the Shanghai Gold Exchange.
Banks in China hold licenses to import gold based on strictly controlled quotas issued irregularly by the People’s Bank of China. Imports were likely lifted further by a new licensing regime that took effect on June 1. The change encouraged banks to exhaust existing quotas before the new rules kicked in.
Some banks may have booked shipments before June, but the gold would not have registered in customs data until later due to the time required for financing, transportation and paperwork, Wu added.
Domestic Premium Makes International Gold Cheaper
The domestic premium on gold that persisted through most of the first half of the year made it cheaper for banks to source bullion from the international market. That further boosted the incentive to import, pushing June’s figure to a two-year peak.