Beijing: China's gold consumption edged up in the first quarter of 2026, mainly driven by the strong demand for gold bars and coins, data from the China Gold Association showed.
According to Emirates News Agency, the country's gold consumption totaled 303.29 tonnes in the first three months of the year, marking a 4.41% increase compared to the previous year. This growth was largely influenced by a significant rise in demand for gold bars and coins, which surged by 46.4% to reach 202.06 tonnes. In contrast, gold jewelry consumption experienced a decline of 37.1%, falling to 84.62 tonnes.
The first quarter also saw robust inflows into gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These funds added 50.44 tonnes during the period, representing a 114.88% year-on-year increase and bringing total ETF holdings to 298.29 tonnes by the end of March.