China’s Gold Demand Seen Rising 13% As Council Pares Target

Gold demand in China, the second- largest user after India last year, may expand 13 percent to 870 metric tons in 2012, the World Gold Council said, dropping a forecast for consumption to reach as much as 1,000 tons.

Jewelry demand may expand 7.7 percent to 550 tons, slower than the 13 percent growth last year, Albert Cheng, Far East managing director at the producer-funded group, said in an interview. Demand for bars and coins may gain 24 percent to 320 tons, lower than the 38 percent climb last year, he said.

Cash gold slumped for a fourth month in May in the worst run in 13 years as Europe’s debt crisis drove investors to seek the dollar as a haven over the precious metal. Gold sales in China in the second quarter were slower-than-expected as local consumers usually refrain from buying when a rally stalls, said Cheng, who’d made the 1,000 ton prediction in May.

“From our talk to the industry people, we gathered that the Europe’s debt crisis has led to a firmer U.S. dollar, which in turn suppressed the investors’ willingness to buy gold,” Cheng said in Beijing yesterday. “Gold jewelry is also discretionary consumption, so consumers feel they can wait.”

Spot gold was little changed at $1,586.30 an ounce at 2:03 p.m. in Singapore, down from a record $1,921.15 last September. The metal has rallied for eleven straight years as investors sought protection from weaker currencies and inflation, and demand in emerging markets increased.

July 10, 2012 (Source: Bloomberg)

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