China’s demand for gold increases 5 times in 10 yrs  

中国黄金需求10年增逾5倍

中国珠宝玉石首饰行业协会副秘书长、上海黄金饰品行业协会秘书长许文军，6日在上海举办的“2012中国黄金与贵金属峰会”上说，中国的黄金需求10年间增长了5倍多。

Shanghai (CNS) -- China's demand for gold has increased more than five times over the past decade, Xu Wenjun, secretary-general of the Shanghai Gold Jewelry Industry Association, said on Thursday at a seminar.

The country's demand for gold increased to 1,043.9 tons in 2011 from 206.7 tons in 2002, said Xu, adding that China has been at the first position on the world's list of gold mineral production for five consecutive years.

The Chinese mainland imported 431 tons of gold from Hong Kong in 2011, nearly 12 times more than in 2001, said Wang Yujin, co-president of the Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange.

In addition to jewelry, more and more Chinese consumers are purchasing gold as an investment, added Wang.

From 2002 to 2011, the world's demand for real gold increased from 352 tons to 1,690 tons. Demand from the Chinese mainland increased to 258.9 tons from 2.7 tons during the same period.