Wednesday, December 2, 2009

China 2009 Gold Demand, Output May Gain to Records

China, the world’s largest gold producer, may break records for both demand and output this year as jewelry consumption soars and miners expand production after prices reached all-time highs, the China Gold Association said.

Gold demand may be more than 450 metric tons compared with 395.6 tons in 2008, and output may climb to 310 tons, compared with 282 tons a year earlier, Zhang Yongtao, deputy secretary- general of the association, said at a conference in Kunming yesterday. China’s gold production increased by an average 9.5 percent in the past eight years, he said.

China overtook South Africa to become the world’s largest producer in 2007 and the World Gold Council said in July that the nation may pass India as the biggest consumer. Bullion touched a record of $1,195.13 an ounce Nov. 26 as a weaker dollar drove demand for precious metals as an alternative asset. (more)

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