w w w. g o l d . o r g
Gold Demand Trends AUGUST 2008
Second quarter and first half year 2008 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Table of contents
CLICK ON SUBJECT OR PAGE NUMBER TO NAVIGATE TO PAGE
Executive summary
1
Outlook
2
Demand
3
• The high and volatile gold price continued to dampen demand in tonnage terms during Q2, particularly for jewellery. While the average gold price, at $896.29/oz based on the London pm fix, was well below the peak of $1,011/oz seen in mid-March, it nevertheless represented a 34% rise on the average price of Q2 2007. Total identifiable demand fell 19% relative to yearearlier levels to 735.6 tonnes.
Overall trends
3
Jewellery
5
• In contrast, total demand in value terms rose 9% on year-earlier levels to reach US$21.2bn –
Industrial
a new all-time quarterly record. • In volume terms, jewellery was the biggest contributor to the overall annual decline, falling by
& dental
6
Investment
7
158.7 tonnes (24%) to 504.0 tonnes. However, despite the adverse economic conditions affecting much of the globe, consumers continued to increase their spending on gold jewellery. In value terms, demand rose 2% from year-earlier levels to $14.5bn, a new quarterly record.
Supply
9
• Identifiable investment demand was also softer than year-earlier levels as some investors took profits, but was nevertheless more resilient to the high gold price than jewellery demand. The 4% decline in tonnage relative to year-earlier levels represented a 9% decline in net retail investment, partly offset by a change from small net disinvestment to small net
Consumer demand in individual countries
11
investment in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and similar products. Inferred investment demand (which cannot be directly measured and is proxied by the statistical residual) continued to enjoy sizeable inflows. • During July, total gold held in gold Exchange Traded Funds exceeded 1,000 tonnes for the first time.
India
11
Greater China
12
Other East Asia
13
Middle East & Turkey
14
USA
16
Europe
16
• Second quarter industrial and dental demand declined by 5% to 111.8 tonnes, primarily due to declining demand for gold in the dental and ‘other industrial’ sectors, in response to the continued high gold price. In value terms, this was equivalent to $3.2bn, a rise of 27%. • Gold supply grew by 1% in tonnage terms relative to year-earlier levels. A 13% increase in scrap due to the higher gold price was offset by a 4% reduction in mine output. Supply was also restricted by lower central bank sales. • India was the biggest contributor to the fall in gold demand during Q2, as it was in the first quarter. Both jewellery and investment demand were severely affected by the high and volatile gold price and higher local inflation, which has squeezed disposable incomes. Jewellery demand in Q2 was down 47% in tonnage terms on the levels of a year earlier, while net retail investment fell 41%. Indian demand also fell in US$ value terms, by 29% in jewellery and 20% in investment. Embargo: not for release before Wednesday August 13th 2008, 0700 hrs NY time
AUGUST 2008
1
Historical data
18
Focus on Vietnam
19
Notes & definitions
21
© 2008 World Gold Council and GFMS Ltd
Gold Demand Trends • Other major gold consuming nations experienced a more mixed quarter. On the jewellery side, only China and Egypt experienced a rise relative to year earlier levels in tonnage terms. In China’s case, the rise was just 2% while in Egypt the rise was somewhat larger at 8%. High levels of the gold price, and high volatility, have been a key deterrent along with rising petrol and food prices, which have squeezed disposable incomes. Countries and regions that suffered the largest decline in percentage terms (apart from India) included the US (-30%), Taiwan (-20%) and the UK (-20%), and the “Other Gulf” region (-23%), which was largely attributable to a decline in Kuwait. Nevertheless, the fact that the dollar spend on jewellery in most countries remains above last year’s levels is encouraging given the current economic environment. • Countries that enjoyed strong growth in net retail investment inflows included China, the US and Vietnam. Higher inflation and falling stock markets were a common theme in all three countries, highlighting the inflation hedging and safe haven motives for investing in gold. Net investment demand in Vietnam in H1 2008 totalled 56.8 tonnes, already just outstripping the 56.1 tonnes recorded for the whole of 2007. In Q2 2008, demand more than doubled in China from 4.3 to 9.8 tonnes, and in the US, rose from 1.2 tonnes to 11.3 tonnes. • In Japan, sales of existing gold holdings by investors seeking a profit outweighed purchases to the tune of 12.1 tonnes. This level of net selling back was well below the record 39.3 tonnes seen in the previous quarter, reflecting the move in the gold price down from its earlier highs.
Outlook for Q3 2008 While the sense of economic or financial crisis lasts, gold investment demand will continue to be robust, although high prices are likely to generate a certain amount of profit taking. Under these circumstances, jewellery demand is likely to remain subdued in most countries. Nevertheless, despite the adverse impact of rising food and energy prices on household budgets, the potential for stronger jewellery demand remains, once prices stabilise sufficiently to regenerate consumer purchasing in those countries sensitive to price volatility. Gold supply has remained constrained for some years. While the pace of net de-hedging that has contributed to the tight supply situation in recent years is not sustainable for much longer (if at all), net central bank sales appear to be slowing. Unless a substantial new seller emerges, net sales under the Central Bank Gold Agreement in the current CBGA year, which ends on September 26, could be the lowest since the first Agreement was signed in 1999. Source: GFMS Ltd, WGC
The figures used in this report The supply and demand data in this report are based on tonnage figures compiled independently for the WGC by GFMS Ltd. Any information from alternative sources is clearly indicated. Value figures for demand and supply are calculated by the WGC from the GFMS data. We are sometimes asked why we comment on value figures for demand as well as tonnage instead of just relying on tonnage figures, as is more common in most commodity markets. There are two main reasons for this. First, over 85% of demand is discretionary spending either on a consumer product (jewellery) or as an investment. In both these markets it is customary to comment on value figures. Second, since demand (as statistically defined) has to equal supply, changes in demand can simply reflect growth or contraction in the supply of gold to the market and are thus a poor guide to consumers’ or investors’ appetite for gold. Commenting on both value and on tonnage provides a more holistic picture. For global or regional value figures, the US dollar is used as the measure. Apart from the fact that it is the world’s major currency, most of gold’s main markets are in countries whose currencies are either linked, tightly or loosely, to the dollar or where exchange rates against the dollar do not normally change greatly from year to year, other than in line with inflation differentials. The use of the US dollar is thus appropriate. Not all investment flows can be measured and those that cannot be are proxied by the statistical residual from the supply and demand balance, known as “inferred investment”; this contains stock movements and other elements but it is usually dominated by those investment flows not susceptible to statistical capture.
AUGUST 2008
2
Gold Demand Trends DEMAND Table 1: Identifiable gold demand1 (tonnes)
2006
2007
Q1'07
Q2'07
Q3'07
Q4'07
Q1'08
Q2'082
% ch Q2'08 vs Q2'07
% ch H1'08 vs H1'07
2,284.0
2,400.2
565.2
662.7
602.2
570.2
444.3
504.0
-24
-23
Industrial & dental Electronics Other Industrial Dentistry
459.4 307.9 90.8 60.7
461.1 310.6 92.7 57.8
116.2 77.5 23.9 14.8
118.0 79.4 24.0 14.6
116.6 78.8 23.6 14.2
110.2 74.9 21.2 14.1
111.0 75.9 21.0 14.1
111.8 76.3 21.9 13.6
-5 -4 -9 -7
-5 -3 -11 -6
Identifiable Investment Net retail investment Bar Hoarding Official Coin Medals/Imitation Coin
661.6 401.5 235.3 128.9 59.4 -22.1
656.6 403.3 235.6 137.0 72.6 -42.0
147.3 110.9 66.6 37.7 20.4 -13.8
124.9 127.4 79.7 38.7 25.6 -16.5
244.6 105.1 59.6 38.2 18.3 -11.0
139.8 59.8 29.6 22.4 8.4 -0.7
134.0 61.3 34.9 27.7 9.7 -11.1
119.8 115.9 72.4 32.8 12.4 -1.7
-4 -9 -9 -15 -51 …
-7 -26 -27 -21 -52 …
260.2
253.3
36.4
-2.6
139.5
80.0
72.7
4.0
…
127
3,405.0 603.77
3,518.0 695.39
828.7 649.82
905.7 666.84
963.4 680.13
820.2 786.25
689.3 924.83
735.6 896.29
-19 34
-18 38
Jewellery consumption
Other identified retail invest.3 ETFs & similar products 4 Total identifiable demand London pm fix, $/oz
Source: GFMS Ltd. 1. Identifiable end-use consumption excluding central banks. 2. Provisional. 3. “Other retail” excludes bar and primary coin offtake; it represents mainly activity in North America and Western Europe. 4. Exchange Traded Funds and similar products including: LyxOR Gold Bullion Securities, Gold Bullion Securities (Australia), SPDR Gold Shares (formerly streetTRACKS Gold Shares), NewGold Gold Debentures, iShares Comex Gold Trust, ZKB Gold ETF, GOLDIST, ETF Securities, XETRA-GOLD, Central Fund of Canada and Central Gold Trust.
Overall trends The second quarter of 2008 saw gold demand in tonnage terms
In value terms, however, the analysis of the second quarter tells a
extend the declining trend that began in the fourth quarter of 2007.
more positive story with new all-time quarterly spending records set
Although the gold price corrected back from the highs reached
for total identifiable demand and, despite the strain on household
earlier in the year, it remained relatively high on a historical basis
incomes from rising fuel and food costs, for jewellery demand. Total
during the second quarter, dampening jewellery demand.
identifiable demand rose by 9% to US$21.2bn and jewellery
Deteriorating conditions across many economies, and in particular
demand was 2% higher than a year earlier at US$14.5bn.
the increasing presence of rising inflation, acted as a further barrier
Investment spending was 29% higher than Q2 2007 at US$3.5bn
to spending on gold jewellery. Similar factors also explain a reduc-
and industrial demand grew by 27% to US$3.2bn. The use of US
tion in demand for gold used in industrial applications during the
dollar values of gold demand is relevant as many of gold’s main
quarter. In the investment sector, meanwhile, the picture was mixed.
markets are countries whose currencies are linked to the dollar;
Net investment at the retail level was lower than a year ago,
such value figures therefore provide a reasonable approximation of
although substantially higher than in Q1. Demand for Exchange
spending on gold in national currency terms.
Traded Funds (ETFs) and similar products saw net redemptions at the beginning of the quarter followed by a recovery, eventually
The circumstances that have been dampening demand for jew-
surpassing previous peak holdings, in May and June; this continued
ellery, namely rising inflation, slowing economic growth and the ris-
into July.
ing gold price, have conversely created positive conditions for rising investment demand for gold. Despite sometimes substantial bouts
Total identifiable demand in Q2 2008 was 735.6 tonnes, 19% below
of profit taking, retail investment, ETFs and the residual “inferred
the same period of 2007. Of this total, jewellery demand accounted
investment” category have continued to attract fresh net inflows.
for 504.0 tonnes (-24%), industrial demand absorbed 111.8 tonnes (-5%) and the remaining 119.8 tonnes was taken up by the invest-
Returning to the jewellery sector, the fall in the volume measure of
ment sector (-4%). The figures for the first half year, compared with
consumption in the second quarter was largely the result of the
the first half of 2007, show a very similar picture.
sharp drop in the key market of India, where high and volatile prices
AUGUST 2008
3
Gold Demand Trends Table 2: Identifiable gold demand1 ($m)
2006
2007
Q1'07
Q2'07
Q3'07
Q4'07
Q1'08
Q2'082
% ch Q2'08 vs Q2'07
% ch H1'08 vs H1'07
44,495
53,597
11,808
14,208
13,168
14,413
13,212
14,523
2
7
8,929 5,985 1,765 1,179
10,296 6,939 2,067 1,290
2,428 1,619 499 309
2,531 1,703 515 313
2,550 1,724 516 311
2,787 1,892 537 358
3,301 2,258 625 418
3,221 2,199 630 391
27 29 22 25
32 34 24 30
Other identified retail invest.3 ETFs & similar products 4
12,761 7,818 4,591 2,505 1,158 -435 4,943
14,638 8,860 5,153 3,020 1,586 -899 5,778
3,077 2,317 1,392 788 426 -289 760
2,678 2,732 1,709 829 549 -354 -55
5,349 2,299 1,303 836 400 -240 3,050
3,534 1,511 749 567 212 -17 2,023
3,983 1,822 1,038 824 289 -329 2,161
3,454 3,338 2,086 945 358 -50 115
29 22 22 14 -35 … …
29 2 1 9 -34 … 223
Total identifiable demand
66,184
78,531
17,313
19,417
21,066
20,734
20,496
21,198
9
14
Jewellery consumption Industrial & dental Electronics Other Industrial Dentistry Identifiable Investment Net retail investment Bar Hoarding Official Coin Medals/Imitation Coin
Source: WGC calculations based on data from GFMS Ltd. 1. Identifiable end-use consumption excluding central banks. This table was formerly called "End-use gold demand". 2. Provisional . 3. “Other retail” excludes bar and primary coin offtake; it represents mainly activity in North America and Western Europe. 4. Exchange Traded Funds and similar products including: LyxOR Gold Bullion Securities, Gold Bullion Securities (Australia), SPDR Gold Shares (formerly streetTRACKS Gold Shares), NewGold Gold Debentures, iShares Comex Gold Trust, ZKB Gold ETF, GOLDIST,ETF Securities, XETRA-GOLD, Central Fund of Canada and Central Gold Trust.
Source: WGC based on Global Insight data
AUGUST 2008
4
Gold Demand Trends combined with inflation pressures restrained spending. It is worth
Chart 3: Gold price and volatility
noting, however, that the second quarter of 2007, with which we are comparing our data, was particularly strong thanks to the prevailing conditions at the time, which included relatively stable prices and a
1100
45%
booming domestic economy. 1000
The dollar value of global spending on gold jewellery over the first
900
30%
half of 2008 was 7% higher than for the first half of 2007. Given the 800
widespread climate of economic slowdown and rising inflation, the fact that gold jewellery is clearly accounting for a greater level of
700
discretionary consumer spending is an encouraging message.
15%
600
Finally, a note on gold supply; this has been more or less static
500
over the last year, as constraints on mine production and a slow-
400
down in official sector sales have been countered by rising scrap
0% Apr 05 Oct 05 Apr 06 Oct 06 Apr 07 Oct 07 Apr 08
supply and deceleration in producer de-hedging. This illustrates quite clearly the point that the 34% rise in the US$ price between
Gold price, $/oz, lhs
Q2 2007 and Q2 2008 was largely the result of an expansion in
22-day rolling volatility, rhs
underlying demand. Source: Global Insight, WGC
Jewellery Jewellery demand in the second quarter of 2008 recovered from
during the second quarter) it has surrendered around 10% of its
the depressed levels of the previous quarter to reach 504.0 tonnes.
market share over the last 12 months as demand has almost halved
When compared with the second quarter of 2007, however, it reg-
during that time. In rupee spending terms, Q2 demand was 28%
istered a significant decline; down 24%. In marked contrast to this,
below Q2 2007 levels as high and volatile gold prices continued to
the value of spending on gold jewellery in US$ terms increased 2%
weigh on the market. Additionally, the spectre of rising inflation gave
over Q2 2007 levels and set a new quarterly record of US$14.5bn.
consumers further reason to withhold their purchases as disposable income was constrained.
For the first half of the year as a whole, jewellery demand amounted to 948.3 tonnes, equating to a 23% drop compared with the first six
It was a similar story across many of the countries in the Middle East
months of 2007. Over the same period, the value of gold jewellery
region, where high gold prices and rising inflation deterred gold jew-
demand rose 7% to US$27.7bn.
ellery spending. The exception was Egypt, which was one of the few countries to experience a rise in gold jewellery demand in the sec-
The primary factor driving demand lower during the quarter was the
ond quarter. Consumers here are becoming increasingly accus-
continued strength in the gold price. Although the price
tomed to lofty price levels and the dip in the price from the Q1
corrected back from the record levels set during the first quarter, it
record highs was greeted with hefty bouts of buying. However,
remained high and volatile. Price volatility is a major deterrent to
demand across the rest of the region suffered, particularly in the
demand in a number of countries, most notably India, which is the
Other Gulf group of countries where a sharp drop in demand in
world’s largest market for gold jewellery. Additionally, demand was
Kuwait accounted for much of the decline.
hampered by rising inflation, which has started to spread across the globe, and slowing economic growth in many countries as the fall-
Turkey, the second largest market for gold jewellery, experienced
out from the US-led credit-crunch unfolds. Consumers are finding
a difficult start to the quarter with political turmoil adding to price
their disposable income increasingly constricted by rising house-
pressures to constrain demand. While demand picked up in April
hold costs as food and fuel prices spiral. This has weighed on
and May, the volume of gold jewellery demand for the quarter as a
consumer confidence, compounding the effect on gold jewellery
whole was 15% below year-earlier levels, although in local currency
demand as spending on such discretionary items is reined in.
terms spending was 7% higher. The value of gold demand grew by a similar rate over the first six months of the year.
Although India retains its position as the largest consumer of gold Conditions in the US gold jewellery market deteriorated further
jewellery (accounting for around 23% of global jewellery demand
AUGUST 2008
5
Gold Demand Trends during the second quarter of 2008. Spending was stifled in all but
lar, with demand of 222.8 tonnes, 5% below the 234.0 tonnes seen
the top brackets of the gold jewellery market as the repercussions
in H1 2007.
of the credit crunch and the soaring price of oil had a severely detrimental impact on consumers and their household budgets. For the
In a repeat of the first quarter, the smallest decline occurred in the
first half of the year, gold jewellery offtake amounted to 72.5 tonnes,
electronics sector where demand was 4% below Q2 2007. The
a 27% drop on the corresponding period of 2007. However, the fig-
sharp economic downturn in the US, coupled with rising global infla-
ures for demand in value terms over the same period hint at a more
tion and a weaker global economic outlook, has had a negative
resilient US consumer as the value of spending actually rose by 1%
impact on consumer activity in a number of markets. Consumer
to US$2.13bn.
spending on non-essential items has therefore been constrained, which helps to explain the fall in demand in this sector. That said,
Western European consumers were similarly affected by a combi-
however, recent US data suggest retail sales in some segments are
nation of the high gold price and deteriorating economic conditions.
performing better than expected – notably flat panel televisions,
Demand in Italy (-17%) and the UK (-20%) were hit hard and spend-
notebook computers and wireless applications. Japan, the US,
ing in the lower and middle price brackets dried up as consumer
South Korea and Taiwan all experienced a decline in demand for
confidence slumped. Russia’s market was considerably more
gold used in electronics. The exceptions were China and Russia,
resilient, virtually unchanged in volume terms and 34% higher in
where demand rose by 3% and 6% respectively. Growth in China’s
US$ terms. Spending on gold jewellery in the first half of the year
electronics sector during the period reflects continued success in
reached US$1.13bn, not far shy of the US$1.22bn spent during the
the automotive industry and growth in demand for mobile phones,
first nine months of 2007.
notebook computers and MP3 players.
In contrast to most other countries, demand in China proved to be
Demand for gold in the dental sector fell to 13.6 tonnes, a 7%
relatively robust, resulting in a 2% rise in the volume of gold jew-
decline on year-earlier levels. The movement towards substituting
ellery consumed in the second quarter. For the first half year, the
gold with alternative materials continues, a trend exacerbated by
growth rate over the same period of 2007 was 6% and this translates
gold remaining at lofty levels around US$900/oz throughout much
to an increase of 35% in local currency value terms.
of the quarter. Substantial declines were recorded in the two largest markets: Japan (-6%) and the US (-13%). German demand also posted another notable decline, down 9% on year earlier levels.
Demand across the rest of the Asian region was not quite so robust for the second quarter, with Japan and Vietnam witnessing declines of 5% and 7% respectively. Consumption in Indonesia was particular-
Once again it was the other industrial and decorative segment of
ly weak, posting a fall of 16%. In US$ value terms, however, demand
industrial demand that recorded the largest fall; at 21.9 tonnes, this
in all three markets was higher than for the year earlier period and the
was 9% below the 24.0 tonnes consumed in the second quarter of
first half year comparison on this basis was also very encouraging.
2007. Demand in this sector continues to be hampered by gold prices at historically high levels. Demand for traditional jari (the gold
The picture for gold jewellery demand remains mixed as a volume
thread used particularly in making wedding saris) has been heavily
measure shows a decline across virtually all markets, with just two
affected by the sustained rise in the gold price. Furthermore, reports
notable exceptions (China and Egypt), while a value measure
also suggest that fashion trends in India are going through a secu-
shows that spending in many countries was above the levels of last
lar change, with younger generations shifting away from more tra-
year. While the gold price remains at historically high levels – and
ditional saris, often containing the gold metal jari, to a more western
particularly while price volatility remains a feature – this trend is like-
approach, with their clothes now regularly purchased from depart-
ly to continue as consumers maintain spending levels but are not
ment stores and boutiques for special occasions.
able to buy the same quantity as earlier. The most striking feature of this scenario, however, is that consumers are able to maintain
Demand in this category from Switzerland recorded a double digit
spending on gold jewellery despite the increasing pressures that
percentage decline in growth, but this was offset by rises of 7% and
are being exerted on disposable income across much of the globe.
3% respectively for Italy and China due to sustained demand for plating and electro-forming production. For the first six months of the
Industrial and dental
year, demand in this sector was 11% below the same period of 2007.
Second quarter demand for gold in industrial and dental applications recorded a modest decline compared with year earlier levels, falling 5% to 111.8 tonnes. The picture for the first half year is simi-
AUGUST 2008
6
Gold Demand Trends Table 3: Investment demand (tonnes except where specified)
2006
2007
Q1'07
Q2'07
Q3'07
Q4'07
Q1'08
Q2'081
% ch Q2'08 vs Q2'07
% ch H1'08 vs H1'07
Identifiable Investment
661.6
656.6
147.3
124.9
244.6
139.8
134.0
119.8
-4
-7
Net retail investment
403.3 235.6
110.9
127.4
105.1
59.8
61.3
115.9
-9
-26
Bar Hoarding
401.5 235.3
66.6
79.7
59.6
29.6
34.9
72.4
-9
-27
Official Coin
128.9
137.0
37.7
38.7
38.2
22.4
27.7
32.8
-15
-21
59.4
72.6
20.4
25.6
18.3
8.4
9.7
12.4
-51
-22.1
-42.0
-13.8
-16.5
-11.0
-0.7
-11.1
-1.7
…
-52 …
260.2
253.3
36.4
-2.6
139.5
80.0
72.7
4.0
…
127
168.3
-21.9
-37.9
-143.2
-39.6
198.8
109.6
58.5
…
…
Medals/Imitation Coin Other identified retail invest.2 ETFs & similar products
3
"Inferred investment"4 "Total" investment "Total" investment, $m
829.9
634.7
109.4
-18.3
205.0
338.6
243.6
178.4
…
363
16,136
14,937
2,286.4
-391.8
4,482.0
8,560.0
7,243.3
5,140.5
…
554
Source: GFMS Ltd. 1. Provisional . 2. “Other retail” excludes bar and primary coin offtake; it represents mainly activity in North America and Western Europe. 3. Exchange Traded Funds and similar products including: LyxOR Gold Bullion Securities, Gold Bullion Securities (Australia), SPDR Gold Shares (formerly streetTRACKS Gold Shares), NewGold Gold Debentures, iShares Comex Gold Trust, ZKB Gold ETF, GOLDIST, ETF Securities, XETRA-GOLD, Central Fund of Canada and Central Gold Trust. 4. See notes to table 4.
Investment Total identifiable investment in gold (excluding ‘inferred investment’)
levels of price volatility have been a deterrent. Bar hoarding was
during Q2 2008 totalled 119.8 tonnes, down from 134.0 tonnes in
more resilient, falling 9%, with selling out of Japan and India being
Q1 and 124.9 tonnes in Q2 2007. This 4% decline relative to year-
offset by strong demand out of China and Vietnam. The credit
earlier levels represents the combination of a 9% fall in net retail
crisis, rising inflation and weak stock markets have all led to a shift
investment demand (mainly medals and imitation coins), partly
in portfolios towards the safety of gold. Offtake of official coins was
offset by a change from small net disinvestment to small net invest-
15% lower than a year previously, primarily due to lower demand in
ment in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and similar products. Net
Turkey compared to a strong Q2 2007.
retail investment was, however, 89% higher than in the first quarter, primarily as the pull-back in the gold price from the peaks seen in
The recent worsening in inflation concerns in many parts of the
March reduced profit taking, while net inflows into ETFs were
world has had a conflicting impact on investment demand for gold.
sharply lower (see following page).
In some countries, declining disposable incomes have resulted in a contraction in funds left over for savings and a reduction in gold
In dollar terms, the value of identifiable investment demand in Q2
investment demand. India fits into this category. In Q2, investment
declined to $3.5bn from $4.0bn the previous quarter. Nevertheless,
demand in India totalled 43.4 tonnes, down from 73.0 tonnes a year
this still marked a 29% rise on the levels of the previous year. When
earlier, and down by 19% in Rupee terms. However, this decline in
inferred investment is added, total investment demand for the quar-
Indian demand was largely offset by a rise in demand in China, the
ter was 178.4 tonnes ($5.1bn) compared to 243.6 tonnes ($7.2bn)
US and Vietnam – all three countries benefited from the inflation and
in Q1. While Q2 2008 represents a marked improvement on Q2
safe haven motives.
2007’s net disinvestment of 18.3 tonnes (-$0.4bn), this should be interpreted in the context of the timeline of the credit crisis, which
Vietnamese investment demand in H1 2008 totalled 56.8 tonnes,
only started to hit media headlines in Q3 2007. The credit crisis and
already just outstripping the 56.1 tonnes recorded for the whole of
its flow-on effects have been a key driver of investment demand for
2007. A loss of confidence in the currency, high inflation and declin-
gold since that time.
ing equity prices all helped fuel demand for gold. The declining sharemarket and safe haven motives were also evident in mainland
Investment in medals and imitation coins, which was down 51% on
China, where retail investment more than doubled from 4.3 tonnes
year-earlier levels, was the biggest contributor to the decline in net
in Q2 2007 to 9.8 tonnes in Q2 2008.
retail investment. This largely reflects lower investment demand in India, where disposable incomes have been negatively affected by
In the US, economic concerns stimulated demand for bars and
sharply rising inflation and where the higher gold price and high
coins. Retail investment demand reached its highest level for almost
AUGUST 2008
7
Gold Demand Trends seven years at 11.3 tonnes, equivalent to US$326m, up from just
(formerly streetTRACKS Gold Shares, Ticker:GLD), which is by far
US$26m in Q2 2007. At times, sentiment towards the economy
the largest gold ETF. While the majority of investors in GLD, as in
appeared to improve and the flow-on effects of the sub-prime crisis
other gold ETFs, are retail investors who tend to have a long term
were seen to be nearing an end. At other times, concerns appeared
horizon, there are also several large institutional investors with a
stronger than ever.
shorter time horizon. These institutional investors can, at times, dominate quarter-to-quarter movements in this category. The net
The two countries where disinvestment has remained a theme are
ETF outflow in April appears largely to reflect such selling (see
Japan and France. Net profit-taking has been evident in Japan since
charts 4 and 5).
2006. Investors have been selling back the holdings they bought in earlier years when the gold price was much lower and this dis-
The start of Q3 has marked the introduction of the SPDR Gold
hoarding has outweighed new investment. Selling surged in Q1 as
Shares’ Hong Kong and Tokyo cross-listing. It was launched in Tokyo
the price peaked, resulting in disinvestment of a record 39.3 tonnes.
on June 30 and in Hong Kong on July 31. Both launches were suc-
While this net selling eased back to 12.1 tonnes in Q2 with the fall in
cessful, generating significant media publicity. Trading volume in the
the price, it nevertheless exceeded the levels of a year earlier (10.5
Hong Kong product on launch day totalled US$18.8m. During July,
tonnes). In France, the net dishoarding of bars and coins totalled
total investment in ETFs exceeded 1,000 tonnes for the first time.
4.1 tonnes in Q2, a modest improvement on Q1 levels. The ‘inferred investment’ component of investment demand has conThe other component of identifiable investment demand, that of
tinued to enjoy sizeable inflows. Demand totalled 58.5 tonnes, well
ETFs and similar products, experienced a small net inflow of 4.0
down on the levels of the previous two quarters but still significantly
tonnes during Q2 compared with a 72.7 tonne inflow in Q1. In value
better than the net outflow of 143.2 tonnes seen in Q2 2007. Inferred
terms, this equated to investment of US$115m. The recent quarter
investment is calculated as a statistical residual and is therefore
was marked by two distinct trends. During April, gold ETFs suffered
subject to statistical uncertainty. It includes most, though not all,
an outflow of 61 tonnes. By May, however, the inflow had recovered
short-term speculative inflows and the implication of the Q2 number
to 22 tonnes, and strengthened again in June to 45 tonnes. This
is that institutional investor interest remained relatively buoyant,
largely reflects flows in and out of the US listed SPDR® Gold Shares
underpinned by the uncertain economic and financial environment.
Source: Source: www.exchangetradedgold.com; Global Insight
AUGUST 2008
Source: www.ishares.com; www.exchangetradedgold.com; www.etfsecurities.com; Zurich Kantonalbank; Finans Portföy; www.Deutcshe-Boerse.com; Global Insight
8
Gold Demand Trends SUPPLY Table 4: Gold supply and demand (WGC presentation) Note: jewellery data in this table refer to fabrication not consumption and quarterly data differ from the data in Tables 1 and 2.
2006 Supply Mine production Net producer hedging Total mine supply
2007
Q1'07
Q2'07
Q3'07
2,485 -410 2,075 370 1,129 3,573
2,475 -447 2,028 501 967 3,496
591 -94 496 72 243 811
613 -197 416 154 227 797
2,284 459 2,743 424 -22 260 3,405
2,400 461 2,861 445 -42 253 3,518
586 116 702 125 -14 36 849
697 118 816 144 -17 -3 940
"Inferred investment"4
168
-22
-38
-143
-40
London PM fix (US$/oz)
603.77
695.39
649.82
666.84
680.13
Official sector sales2 Old gold scrap Total Supply Demand Fabrication Jewellery Industrial & dental Sub-total above fabrication Bar & coin retail investment3 Other retail investment ETFs & similar Total Demand
640 -82 558 178 216 951
629 117 746 116 -11 139 991
Q4'07
Q1'08
Q2'081
% ch Q2'08 vs Q2'07
% ch H1'08 vs H1'07
547 -128 418 81 318 817
590 -131 458 88 256 802
-4 … 10 -43 13 1
462 111 573 72 -11 73 707
512 112 623 118 -2 4 743
-27 -5 -24 -18 … … -21
127 -19
199
110
59
…
…
786.25
924.83
896.29
631 -74 558 97 281 936
488 110 598 60 -1 80 738
34
-6 … -4 -25 22 1
-24 -5 -21 -29 …
38
Source: GFMS Ltd. Data in this table are consistent with those published by GFMS but adapted to the WGC’s presentation and take account of the additional demand data now available. The “inferred investment” figure differs from the “implied net (dis)investment” figure in GFMS’ supply and demand table as it excludes “ETFs and similar” and “other retail investment”. 1. Provisional. 2. Excluding any delta hedging of central bank options. 3. Equal to net retail investment from Table 1 less the 'other identified retail investment' category. 4. This is the residual from combining all the other data in the table. It includes institutional investment other than ETFs & similar, stock movements and other elements as well as any residual error. In previous editions of GDT it was referred to as the “balance”.
At 802 tonnes, second quarter supply was little changed from one
Q2 was a further quarter of substantial de-hedging, although it was
year earlier. This concealed contrasting movements in the different
less than in the exceptionally high quarter of Q2 2007. The 131
components with a sharp reduction in official sector sales offset by
tonnes reduction was partly due to a major buyback programme by
the combined effects of a rise in scrap supply and a deceleration in
Anglogold Ashanti and to a number of smaller operations by sever-
net de-hedging.
al companies. Overall mine supply, at 458 tonnes, was 10% higher than a year earlier, although for the first half as a whole it was 4%
Mine output is provisionally estimated to have been 4% lower than
below year earlier levels.
a year earlier at 590 tonnes. There was a sharp rise in Russian output largely due to enhanced production at Polyus’s Olimpiada mine
Net central bank sales were broadly similar to levels seen in Q1.
following the commissioning of a new sulphide ore processing
They were substantially lower – 43% down – on levels recorded for
plant. Chinese output also appears to have increased. However
Q2 2007; net sales in Q2 and Q3 2007 were relatively high due
gold output in Indonesia fell sharply, primarily due to planned mine
primarily to rapid selling by the Swiss National Bank. Sales under
sequencing at the Grasberg mine but also due to a fall in output at
the Central Bank Gold Agreement amounted to around 317 tonnes
the Batu Hijau mine, while output in South Africa and in Australia
by 31st July and have been running below last year’s levels. Indeed,
seems likely to have remained weak. For the first half as a whole,
taking account of publicly available information on central bank
and taking account of a weak (revised) Q1 figure, output was 6%
intentions, it seems possible that net selling in the current CBGA
below year-earlier levels.
year, which ends on September 26, could be the lowest since the
AUGUST 2008
9
Gold Demand Trends first CBGA was signed in 1999 (the previous low figure being the
generally and partly as retailers are being more cautious in their
385 tonnes recorded for the last year of the first Agreement).
purchasing and only acquiring lines they are fairly confident of selling.
It also seems likely that sales during the final year of the Agreement will be low unless a major new seller emerges. As is well known, the IMF has plans to sell around 400 tonnes of its gold and has indicated that it hopes to do this gradually over a period of years and in association with Central Bank Gold Agreements, so that the sales do not represent a net addition to the quantity of gold the market is
Chart 6: Net central bank sales, tonnes 300 250
already anticipating from the official sector. However, this requires a formal 85% vote in favour from its membership. The USA has a
200
16.8% vote and the US representative cannot vote in favour without explicit Congressional approval. Formal agreement to the sales plan cannot therefore happen unless and until the proposal has been
150 100
passed by the US Congress and the time needed for this means any potential IMF selling cannot be imminent.
50
Scrap supply, at 256 tonnes, was 13% higher than in Q2 2007 but lower than the levels seen in the first quarter. Supplies from Asia and the Middle East were lower than in February and March due to the
0 -50 Q1 ‘02
Q1 ‘03
Q1 ‘04
Q1 ‘05
Q1 ‘06
Q1 ‘07
Q1 ‘08
lower prices. In North America and Western Europe scrap supplies have been boosted by advertisements encouraging people to take advantage of the high gold price to sell back jewellery. In contrast,
CBGA sales Non-CBGA sales
sales for re-melt of unsold stock by suppliers and retailers have declined, partly as traders are now working on lower stock levels Source: GFMS, IMF, WGC
AUGUST 2008
10
Gold Demand Trends CONSUMER DEMAND TRENDS IN INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES 1
Table 5: Consumer demand in selected countries: Q2 2008 (tonnes) 2007
India Greater China China Hong Kong Taiwan Japan Indonesia Vietnam Middle East Saudi Arabia Egypt UAE Other Gulf Turkey Russia2 USA Italy2 UK2 Europe excl CIS3 Total above Other World
Jewellery 551.7 331.3 302.2 14.4 14.7 30.6 55.2 21.4 325.5 117.9 67.8 99.8 40.0 188.1 85.7 257.9 59.2 50.1 ... 1956.6 443.6 2400.2
Net retail invest. 217.5 34.0 25.6 1.0 7.4 -56.3 0.3 56.1 20.1 9.0 0.7 7.5 2.9 61.1 ... 16.6 ... ... 9.6 359.2 44.1 403.3
Q2 20081
Q2 2007 Total 769.2 365.3 327.8 15.5 22.1 -25.7 55.5 77.5 345.6 126.9 68.5 107.3 42.9 249.3 85.7 274.5 59.2 50.1 9.6 2315.8 487.7 2803.5
Total Jewellery 296.1 118.0 81.6 75.5 71.7 68.7 3.9 3.5 6.0 3.2 -2.8 7.3 12.4 10.3 21.3 4.7 97.4 80.7 42.5 33.7 13.3 14.1 29.8 24.4 11.9 8.5 70.8 42.5 18.3 18.2 48.5 33.0 12.8 10.6 8.6 6.9 -1.5 ... 663.5 407.6 126.6 96.4 790.2 504.0
Net retail invest. 43.4 12.0 9.8 0.3 2.0 -12.1 0.2 25.3 5.4 2.2 0.5 2.2 0.6 16.1 ... 11.3 ... ... 1.8 103.3 12.5 115.9
% ch. Q2 2008 vs Q2 2007 Total Jewellery 161.4 -47 87.5 1 78.5 2 3.8 -3 5.2 -20 -4.8 -5 10.5 -16 30.0 -7 86.1 -12 35.9 -15 14.6 8 26.6 -12 9.0 -23 58.6 -15 18.2 -1 44.3 -30 10.6 -17 6.9 -20 1.8 ... 510.9 -26 108.9 -13 619.8 -24
Net retail invest. -41 83 125 -7 4 ... 15 55 -9 -23 125 10 -35 -22 ... 834 ... ... ... -7 -21 -9
Total -45 7 9 -3 -12 ... -16 41 -12 -15 10 -11 -24 -17 -1 -9 -17 -20 ... -23 -14 -22
Source: GFMS Ltd. 1. Provisional. 2. Jewellery only. 3. Net retail investment only.
India High and volatile gold prices, among other factors, continued to
Continued gold price volatility was an added deterrent to gold
hamper gold demand in India during the second quarter. As a result,
jewellery demand during the quarter. India is well known for being a
jewellery demand was 47% below year-earlier levels and investment
market where volatility in the gold price is as important as the out-
demand was 41% lower. Growth rates in demand for the first half
right price level, if not more so. While the correction in the gold price
year were of a similar magnitude. It is worth mentioning however,
from the first quarter record highs was positive for demand, the
that Q2 2007 was a record quarter for both components of con-
instability in the price encouraged many consumers to adopt a ‘wait
sumer demand.
and see’ policy in their gold purchasing decisions, which was also reflected in the jewellery trade’s reluctance to commit to high inven-
In the jewellery sector, demand for gold amounted to 118.0 tonnes,
tory levels.
compared with 223.1 tonnes (an all-time high) in the corresponding period of last year. During the quarter, the global economic down-
The Akshaya Thritiya festival in May, which is now established
turn began to infect consumer sentiment. In what is fast becoming
country-wide as a key gold buying occasion, provided some
a global theme, the rising price of oil stimulated inflation in India.
positive news in an otherwise gloomy quarter. Although the volume
This, particularly when combined with a subsequent rise in interest
of sales generated by the festival was lower than for the 2007 event,
rates, had the effect of reducing disposable income and discourag-
the decline was only in the region of 11% - compared with the 47%
ing consumers from spending on gold jewellery. To illustrate this
drop for Q2 as a whole – and the estimated sales as a result of the
point, spending on gold jewellery declined 28% in local currency
festival were around 50 tonnes. The traditional May wedding season
terms to Rp141.7bn.
was not able to stem the decline in demand, however, as the number of auspicious wedding days in May this year was much smaller than last year.
1 Consumer demand is gold bought by individuals – i.e. as jewellery and net retail investment. Unless otherwise specified all data in this section refer to tonnage figures and growth rates are comparisons with the same period of the previous year.
AUGUST 2008
11
Gold Demand Trends Table 6: Consumer demand in selected countries: first half year
Jewellery
H1 2007 Net retail invest
Total
Jewellery
H1 20081 Net retail invest.
% ch. H1 2008 vs H1 2007 Net retail Jewellery invest. Total
Total
India
363.8
134.5
498.3
189.1
74.4
263.5
-48
-45
-47
Greater China
161.9
17.1
179.0
168.2
28.7
196.9
4
68
10
China
146.6
13.6
160.2
155.3
24.8
180.1
6
83
12
Hong Kong
7.4
0.6
7.9
6.9
0.5
7.4
-6
-5
-6
Taiwan
8.0
3.0
10.9
6.0
3.4
9.4
-25
15
-14
Japan
15.3
-25.3
-10.0
14.7
-51.4
-36.7
-4
...
...
Indonesia
27.8
0.4
28.2
21.6
-3.0
18.6
-22
...
-34
11.5
31.3
42.8
9.6
56.8
66.4
-16
81
55
Middle East
171.4
10.3
181.7
145.7
10.9
156.6
-15
6
-14
Saudi Arabia
65.8
4.6
70.4
53.2
3.7
56.9
-19
-20
-19
Egypt
28.6
0.4
29.0
30.7
1.8
32.5
8
359
12
UAE
56.0
3.9
59.9
46.3
4.5
50.8
-17
18
-15
Other Gulf
21.0
1.5
22.5
15.5
0.9
16.4
-26
-41
-27
Turkey Russia1
83.5
36.8
120.4
71.4
24.3
95.7
-15
-34
-20
35.4
...
35.4
38.5
...
38.5
9
...
9
USA Italy1
99.7
5.8
105.5
72.5
18.4
90.9
-27
218
-14
22.0
...
22.0
18.6
...
18.6
-15
...
-15
UK1
16.2
...
16.2
12.4
...
12.4
-24
...
-24
... 1,008.6 219.3 1,227.9
-1.7 209.3 29.1 238.4
-1.7 963.5 219.8 1,183.3
... 762.1 186.2 948.3
8.2 167.4 9.7 177.1
8.2 1,264.4 215.9 1,480.4
... -24 -15 -23
... -20 -67 -26
... 31 -2 25
Vietnam
Europe2 Total above Other World total
Source: GFMS Ltd. 1. Provisional. 2. Jewellery only. 3. Net retail investment only.
Consumer demand for the first six months of the year totalled 263.5 tonnes, compared with 498.3 tonnes for the first half of 2007. Of this,
Chart 7: China demand, tonnes and RMB
jewellery demand accounted for 189.1 tonnes and retail investment 74.4 tonnes. For the second quarter, retail investment demand reached 43 tonnes, a 41% drop from year-earlier levels. Demand for gold investment products was similarly discouraged by the price volatility, while rising inflation had the further effect of reducing the amount of savings that consumers were able to put towards gold investment products. There is some optimism that the upcoming Diwali festival and the second wedding season later in the year will provide a degree of respite to the decline in jewellery consumption. However, for consumption in India to stage any meaningful recovery will require a period of more stable gold prices, since gold price volatility is a key deterrent to gold purchases.
200
40000
180
35000
160
30000
140 120
25000
100
20000
80
15000
60
10000
40
5000
20 0 H100
H102
Tonnes
H104
H106
H108
0
RMB m, rhs
Greater China During the second quarter of 2008, total consumer demand for gold across Greater China was 7% above that of Q2 2007. For the first half year, the growth rate over H1 2007 was 10%. Jewellery consumption
Source: GFMS and WGC
across the region stalled during the second quarter, with a slight rise in demand in mainland China cancelled out by a noticeable decline
In mainland China, Q2 gold jewellery demand inched up 2% over
in Taiwan. Q2 retail investment almost doubled, however, thanks to a
year earlier levels to 68.7 tonnes. Jewellery purchases were
surge in demand among retail investors on the mainland.
restrained as a result of volatility in the gold price and the combina-
AUGUST 2008
12
Gold Demand Trends tion of rising inflation and a plummeting stock market, which
is likely to strengthen as inflationary pressures build and economic
squeezed disposable income and perceived wealth. Falling
growth decelerates, particularly in light of recent turbulence in
property prices further added to pressure on consumers, whose
domestic stock markets. Continued high gold prices would also
confidence began to wane during the quarter. Nevertheless, retail
attract further investment interest in gold. Gold jewellery demand,
sales remain robust and looking at jewellery demand in terms of
on the other hand, is likely to experience something of a lull, partic-
RMB spending shows a rise in gold jewellery consumption of 24%
ularly during the Olympics. Rising inflation, slowing economic
over the same quarter in 2007.
growth and a gradual building of caution among consumers across the region are likely to ensure that gold jewellery consumption
The real success story in mainland China during the second quarter
remains relatively subdued over the coming months.
was retail investment demand for gold, which rocketed to 9.8 tonnes – an increase of 125% over the 4.3 tonnes consumed in Q2 2007.
Other East Asia
Interest in gold investment products (bars and coins) was fuelled
Total consumer gold offtake in Japan during Q2 was a negative 5
both by the rising price of gold and by the poor performance of the
tonnes as selling back of investment gold outweighed purchases for
domestic stock market, which encouraged Chinese investors to put
jewellery. Jewellery demand, at 7.3 tonnes, was down slightly on the
their money into other vehicles such as the perceived ‘safe haven’ of
levels of the previous quarter and down 5% on the levels of a year
gold. The last batch of the commemorative Beijing Olympics bar was
earlier. This gradually declining trend has been in place for some
released into the market during the quarter and this also helped to
time. In yen terms, jewellery demand has remained strong, rising
stimulate interest in gold as a retail investment product.
11% between Q2 2007 and Q2 2008. Levels of disinvestment totalled 12 tonnes, a marked improvement on the previous quarter’s
In Hong Kong, gold jewellery consumption slipped 3% to 3.5
-39 tonnes. However, this still represented a worsening on year
tonnes from 3.6 tonnes in the corresponding period of 2007. In
earlier levels (-10 tonnes).
value terms, this translates to an increase of 30% from US$77m to US$101m. Although still robust, economic growth is slowing in
While the decline in jewellery demand during the year to June
Hong Kong. The US economic downturn has started to bite and
appears relatively modest in comparison to the more severe weak-
domestic consumers are growing more cautious as inflation accel-
ness seen in some other countries, it should be viewed in a longer
erates, pushed higher by spiralling oil and food prices. This was
term context. On the one hand, Japan failed to enjoy the surge in
reflected in the volume figures for gold jewellery demand. Demand
jewellery demand during 2007 that was evident in the Middle East,
for gold investment products by retail investors was virtually static at
China and India and the fact that it is not suffering the same magni-
0.3 tonnes. Recent developments in this market are noteworthy, as
tude of correction now is not surprising. At the same time, however,
the end of July witnessed the listing of the SPDR Gold Shares
total spend has been negatively affected by a trend towards lower
(formerly known as StreetTRACKS Gold Shares) on the Hong Kong
caratage jewellery, which is acting as a drag on net demand. The
Stock Exchange. SPDR Gold Shares is the first gold-backed
18-carat jewellery which previously dominated the market is
exchange-traded fund (ETF) to list in Hong Kong and turnover on
progressively being replaced by 14-carat and in some cases 10-
the first day of trading was US$18.8m.
carat jewellery in a trend that currently shows no sign of abating.
High and rising inflation in Taiwan took its toll on jewellery demand,
Profit-taking continued to be a key feature of investor flows,
which fell 20% from year-earlier levels to 3.2 tonnes. Against a back-
although levels of disinvestment were significantly lower than were
drop of stagnant wages and concern over the risk of contagion from
seen during the previous quarter as the price fell back from the
the US economic slowdown consumers held off on purchases of
March peak, reducing the incentive to take profits. Recent trends
luxury items such as gold jewellery. Retail investment demand for
look more encouraging, although it is difficult to say how long this
gold was somewhat more robust, increasing marginally to 2.0
may last.
tonnes. Investors took advantage of the pull-back in the gold price from the mid-March highs and solid buying was reported at this
The cross-listing of the SPDR Gold Shares Exchange Traded Fund
time. The falling domestic stock market provided further motivation
(ETF) on the Tokyo stock exchange on June 30 generated signifi-
for investors to inject funds into gold retail investment products such
cant publicity. Coming at a time when the local stock market was
as the ‘Gold Passbook’.
weak and the sub-prime crisis was raising awareness of portfolio risk, the cross-listing heightened investor awareness of gold (both
The outlook for gold demand across Greater China during the third
through ETFs and through the physical market) as a means of
quarter is somewhat mixed. Demand for retail investment products
obtaining diversification. Concerns surrounding the implications of
AUGUST 2008
13
Gold Demand Trends excessive leverage and portfolio risk have provided support for
However, there continued to be a noticeable move towards lower
gold. ETFs and Gold Accumulation Plans are seen to be positive in
caratage jewellery. The more ornate designs that were previously a
this regard, in particular due to the ability to reduce entry price risk
feature of 18-carat jewellery are now being manufactured in 9-carat
through dollar cost averaging of gold exposure. However, some
gold. Furthermore, there is more mixed-metal jewellery and a mix
investors continue to prefer the attraction and simplicity of physical
of gold with other non-metal materials.
delivery, in an environment where the complicated debt structures that have been a feature of the sub-prime crisis have gained ongo-
While the disinvestment that occurred in Q1 has abated, total net
ing negative publicity.
investment remained low at 0.2 tonnes. Several large investors have bought on price dips, but this has been offset by selling by
Jewellery demand in Vietnam in Q2 was again restrained by the
small “mum and dad” investors.
high price of gold and fell 7% in tonnage terms from year-earlier levels; this was, however, equivalent to an increase of nearly 40% in national currency terms. In contrast, the boom in investment
Middle East and Turkey
demand continued as investors sought gold as a safe haven due to conditions of high inflation (averaging 16% for the first half year) and
Middle East
concerns over the Dong. Additional incentive was provided by the
Jewellery demand in the Middle East, which accounts for more than
increase in the interest rate that commercial banks pay on gold
90% of total offtake in the region, was 12% lower in tonnage terms
deposited with them (see Focus on page 18) – this rose as high as
in the second quarter of 2008 relative to the previous year.
7% in some cases. Q2 offtake reached 25.3 tonnes, 55% higher than
However, the decline in annual terms was exaggerated by a strong
a year earlier. Together with the 31.5 tonnes recorded for Q1 this
result for the June quarter 2007. This 12% annual percentage
brought net investment for the first half year to 56.8 tonnes – already
decline compares favourably to a 19% decline in the March quarter
exceeding total offtake for 2007 and four fifths of the record annual
2008 relative to a year earlier. Furthermore, demand in the most
total of 2006.
recent quarter remains well above the levels of a year ago in value terms.
As a result of the investment boom gold imports for the first half year reached 56.8 tonnes, compared to the authorised quota for the year
Like many other parts of the world, inflation is squeezing disposable
as a whole of 73.5 tonnes set by the State Bank of Vietnam. In con-
incomes. Inflation in Saudi Arabia recently hit double-digits for the
ditions of rising concern over the deteriorating balance of payments
first time since the 1970s. Nevertheless, the region is in a much
current account, the State Bank announced a ban on gold imports
stronger position going forward than most other parts of the world.
in June. This is not expected to have a substantial impact on
The pain of higher petrol prices on consumers is significantly lower,
consumption for the rest of the year since any significant premium
and high oil prices have a stimulatory rather than contractionary
in the local gold price over the international price results in gold
effect on economic activity.
being smuggled in from neighbouring countries, as was the case in the past. With inflation expected to accelerate in the second half
Jewellery spending patterns across the various countries differed
year gold investment demand is therefore expected to remain high.
widely. Demand in Egypt was up 8% in tonnage terms on the levels of the previous year, but demand was down 15% in Saudi
Total consumer offtake in Indonesia in Q2, at 10.5 tonnes, was
Arabia, 12% in the UAE and 23% in the Other Gulf countries.
down 2 tonnes (16%) on the levels of a year earlier. Jewellery demand, which comprises most of this total, continued the sharply
In Egypt, demand has been resilient to the higher gold price.
weaker trend that was evident in Q1, declining 16%. The higher gold
Demand in dollar terms remains 45% higher than the levels of a year
price has been a key driver of this weaker trend along with double-
earlier. The downward correction in the gold price from its March
digit inflation, which has squeezed disposable incomes.
peak had a positive impact on sentiment, along with a growing
Nevertheless, similar to the trend seen in most other countries, the
acceptance of these generally higher price levels relative to earlier
value of jewellery spending sustained a healthy growth rate over the
years. Furthermore, the narrower trading ranges compared to the
levels of a year earlier.
previous quarter proved positive for demand. In the March quarter, the gold price ranged from a low of $846.75 to a peak of $1,011.25
Spending in the cities was significantly more resilient to the rise in
based on the daily London pm fix i.e. a range of $164.50. In the
the gold price than the rural regions, with buying emerging on dips.
June quarter, the range from peak to trough was $93.0. These
AUGUST 2008
14
Gold Demand Trends reduced trading ranges were also positive for demand in other parts
Turkey
of the region. Buyers have emerged on dips and there appears to
Total Q2 offtake in Turkey, at 58.6 tonnes, was down 12 tonnes
be further pent up demand that is hoping for even larger dips.
(17%) on the levels of a year earlier. Net retail investment fell 22% and jewellery 15%.
In Dubai, the centre of jewellery demand in the UAE, an increase in tourist numbers had a positive influence on jewellery demand, espe-
Jewellery demand was down 15% in tonnage terms on the levels of
cially towards the end of the quarter when the Dubai Summer
a year earlier, a similar magnitude of decline to that experienced in
Surprises campaign started. Second only to the Dubai shopping
Q1. A 14% rise in US dollar terms suggests an underlying level of
festival in its impact on gold demand, Summer Surprises has been
resilience in total spending on jewellery, although this rise was
running for 11 years.
somewhat smaller in local currency terms (7%). This reflects the appreciation in the lira during the period, which saw the lira gold
The second quarter also saw the traditional pre-vacation purchasing
price rise 27% relative to the 34% rise in the US dollar price.
of jewellery as gifts and an increase in advertising activity within the jewellery sector in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Historical trends
Notably, the lira’s strength was largely a H2 2007 story. During the
suggest a strong correlation between jewellery campaigns and
first quarter of this year, the lira depreciated abruptly, triggered by
spending patterns in those markets, and this quarter was no differ-
severe political upheaval following a lawsuit filed against the ruling
ent. The fact that the plain 21k market which dominates sales has
AKP party to close the party and ban 71 of its members from poli-
been more strongly affected by high prices than branded jewellery
tics. Some of this currency depreciation was reversed in the second
partly relates to the success of targeted jewellery advertising. This
quarter, and this strengthening has continued into the third quarter,
advertising coincided with the upcoming wedding and pre-vacation
helped by the lawsuit being resolved largely in the AKP’s favour.
gifting season. Jewellery demand started the second quarter on a weak note, but The gold festival which is currently underway in Saudi Arabia
improved as the quarter progressed. April saw a continuation of the
appears to be going well, which bodes well for a good start to the
sharply lower levels seen during the first quarter in response to the
third quarter. However, whether or not this is sustained depends on
surge in the gold price. However, there was a reasonable recovery
the gold price and whether volatility is kept at bay.
in demand during May and June as the gold price fell back from its highs, helped by the onset of the traditional wedding season. At the
Kuwait is a more unusual case. Consumers have not shown the
same time, the very high levels of scrap that were a feature of the
same degree of price acceptance that has been evident in other
first quarter have abated.
parts of the Middle East. The fabrication sector has been hit - several small family run businesses have closed and inventory is being
Tourist demand remained relatively resilient during the quarter with
sold back to the market as scrap. Kuwait was the driver behind the
the help of a significant increase in tourist numbers compared to
weakness in the Other Gulf countries, where demand experienced
2007. Statistics from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism
the biggest decline relative to last year in the Middle East region.
reported a 16% increase in tourist arrivals in the first six months of the year compared to a year earlier.
Retail investment tends to comprise a relatively small component of total offtake in the region, reflecting the investment aspect of own-
Turkey is a key source of global retail investment demand, amount-
ing high caratage jewellery. In the UAE, investment demand eased
ing to 61 tonnes during calendar 2007. However, levels of invest-
back from a very strong March quarter, but remains well above the
ment fell off sharply to only 4.6 tonnes in the fourth quarter 2007,
levels of last year. The move back into bars and coins that started
and although there was a recovery to 8.2 tonnes in Q1 and 16.1
last quarter has continued.
tonnes in Q2, this remains below the levels of the last two years. In Q2, investment demand in tonnage terms was down 22% on corre-
This region is not experiencing the same economic concerns as
sponding 2007 levels. Monthly investment patterns were similar to
other parts of the world, reflecting the positive (rather than negative)
that seen in the jewellery sector, with demand improving during May
impact of high oil prices. This generally positive economic outlook
and June following significant weakness during April.
should enable the recent resilience in gold demand relative to other parts of the world to continue. Nevertheless, the level of demand in
The outlook for Turkish demand is for some improvement in the sec-
absolute terms will continue to depend on both the gold price and
ond half of Q3 after quite a slow start due to the final phase of the
its volatility.
lawsuit against the AKP. While the improvement in demand levels
AUGUST 2008
15
Gold Demand Trends and reduction in scrap during May and June is encouraging for the
maintain prices below US$100 for the mass market. Contrastingly,
future, the recent bombings in Istanbul could have some negative
the high-end of the market has seen consumers respond to high
effect on tourism numbers; in contrast the settlement of the lawsuit
prices by demanding a greater weight of gold in their branded
against the AKP leaving only a financial burden on the party should
pieces as the intrinsic value of the gold increases. In value terms,
help boost confidence in the remainder of the 3rd quarter.
gold jewellery consumption fell 6% from US$1.02bn to US$0.95bn.
USA
In marked contrast to the jewellery market, US retail investment
Demand for gold in the US had a mixed second quarter, with a
demand reached its highest level for almost seven years at 11.3
sharp fall in jewellery consumption contrasting with a huge jump in
tonnes. This translates to a remarkable 834% rise over Q2 2007,
investment demand. Consequently, total second quarter demand
when retail investment demand for gold amounted to just 1.2
reached 44.3 tonnes, a relatively muted 9% reduction on the same
tonnes. The fast-deteriorating economic climate has raised the profile of gold as a perceived ‘safe haven’ asset, while the record price
period of last year.
levels that gold reached early in the year attracted considerable The decline in the country’s economic fortunes during the quarter,
media attention which has been sustained throughout the second
coupled with a persistently high gold price, resulted in a 30% fall in
quarter. This combination of factors has convinced a growing num-
demand for gold jewellery to 33.0 tonnes from 47.3 tonnes in the
ber of investors to put their money into gold bars and coins and the
second quarter of 2007. The economic slowdown worsened
increase in demand has pushed the value of retail investment up
markedly as the housing, credit and financial markets all continued
from US$26m in Q2 2007 to US$326m in Q2 2008.
to deteriorate. US consumer confidence consequently slumped, which in turn had a predictably negative effect on retail sales. With
Looking ahead, the prospects for gold demand over the coming
rising food and energy prices accounting for an ever larger portion
months remain challenging. The US economic malaise has persisted
of disposable income, and gold prices remaining at historically high
– indeed worsened – in the third quarter so far and the combination
levels, consumers have been less inclined – and less able – to
of rising inflation, continuing high gold prices and flagging con-
spend money on relatively high ticket items such as gold jewellery.
sumer confidence will likely make for a very tough retail climate over
The jewellery sector has suffered accordingly and a number of busi-
the next couple of quarters. That said, there are signs that the mar-
nesses have been forced to shut down, while those remaining have
ket is becoming accustomed to prices around the US$900 level and
witnessed a shift towards silver and gold-plated items in order to
any periods of relatively stable gold prices are likely to witness an increase in interest.
Chart 8: US jewellery demand 4-qtr moving average
Europe Gold jewellery demand in Italy during the second quarter of 2008 came to 10.6 tonnes, 17% lower than the same period in 2007. In 1750
110 100
value terms this translates to a drop of 4% in spending on gold jewellery to €196m (vs. €203m in Q2 2007). Consumer confidence has
1500
90
been falling sharply, reflecting growing concern over inflation and
80
1250
job prospects as the economy continues to deteriorate. Household
70
spending has therefore been held back and retail consumption
1000
60
across virtually all sectors was correspondingly weak. Gold jew-
50
750
ellery was no exception: the middle-lower end of the market, in par-
40
ticular, was affected by the slump in demand.
500
30 20
The slowdown in gold jewellery demand in the UK was equally
250
10
severe. At 6.9 tonnes, Q2 consumption was 20% below year-earlier
0
0 Q1 02
Q3 03
Q1 05
Q3 06
levels, although in value terms it was 9% higher at £101m. In a sim-
Q1 08
ilar story to many other regions, UK consumers were hit by rising Tonnes
inflation and a marked slowdown in economic growth, with the
US$bn, rhs
threat of further contagion from the severe downturn in the US economy. Higher borrowing costs and a sharp reduction in the availability of credit further depressed confidence levels among consumers,
Source: GFMS and WGC
AUGUST 2008
16
Gold Demand Trends who consequently became more frugal in their spending habits. Not
mass market was somewhat daunted by higher gold prices and
surprisingly, discretionary purchase items such as gold jewellery
import problems also had a knock-on effect on demand. The over-
suffered. Hallmarking figures confirm this downturn in demand,
all picture in Russia for the second quarter is therefore reasonably
showing a decline in the number of items being hallmarked across
positive. While the high gold price environment may have proved
all segments of the market. The total number of items being hall-
discouraging to some, the overall rate of spending on gold
marked in the second quarter fell by 30% compared with the same
jewellery has not slackened.
period of the previous year. European net retail investment remained positive during the At 18.2 tonnes, Russian jewellery demand was more or less static
second quarter as the deteriorating global economic scenario
during the second quarter, just 1% below the comparable period
encouraged investment purchases of the yellow metal. Demand
of 2007. In US$ terms however, demand staged an impressive
for bars and coins reached 1.8 tonnes in Q2, compared with net
34% rise as spending on gold jewellery reached US$524m. The
disinvestment of 1.5 tonnes in the same period of 2007. In
Russian economy has so far been largely immune to the econom-
Germany and Switzerland, investment purchases continued
ic woes plaguing much of the world, although inflationary pres-
apace, growing by 56% and 11% to reach 2.5 tonnes and 2.0
sures are starting to build. Economic growth remains buoyant and
tonnes respectively. Although French investors remained net sell-
private consumption continues to grow, underpinned by solid real
ers of gold investment products, the pace of selling back slowed
wage rises. Gold jewellery has clearly been a beneficiary of this,
to -4.1 tonnes compared to -6.5 tonnes in Q2 2007. Demand from
given the rise in value of consumption. This was largely the result
the rest of Europe made up the remainder at 1.4 tonnes, 24%
of sustained demand from the higher end of the market, while the
higher than in Q2 2007.
AUGUST 2008
17
Gold Demand Trends HISTORICAL DATA FOR IDENTIFIABLE GOLD DEMAND Table 7: Historical data for identifiable gold demand1 y g Tonnes ETFs & Industrial & similar dental
Jewellery
Net retail invest.
2000
3,204
165
-
2001
3,008
356
-
2002
2,660
339
2003
2,482
2004
2,613
2005
$bn ETFs & Industrial & similar dental
Total
Jewellery
Net retail invest.
451
3,820
28.75
1.48
-
4.05
363
3,726
26.21
3.10
-
3.16
32.47
3
358
3,360
26.48
3.38
0.03
3.56
33.45
292
39
382
3,195
28.99
3.41
0.46
4.46
37.32
338
133
414
3,497
34.53
4.46
1.83
5.44
46.26
2,708
385
208
432
3,733
38.68
5.45
3.03
6.17
53.33
2006
2,284
401
260
459
3,405
44.49
7.82
4.94
8.93
66.18
2007
2,400
403
253
461
3,518
54.20
8.93
5.72
10.40
79.25
Q1’05
683
120
89
106
998
9.39
1.65
1.22
1.46
13.71
Q2’05
740
110
-2
111
959
10.16
1.51
-0.02
1.52
13.18
Q3’05
613
86
38
108
844
8.66
1.22
0.53
1.53
11.93
Q4’05
672
69
84
107
932
10.47
1.08
1.30
1.66
14.50
Q1’06
491
89
113
112
805
8.75
1.59
2.01
2.00
14.34
Q2’06
529
93
49
115
787
10.68
1.89
0.99
2.33
15.88
Q3’06
557
108
19
116
800
11.13
2.16
0.38
2.32
15.99
Q4’06
707
111
79
116
1,013
13.94
2.18
1.56
2.29
19.97
Q1’07
565
111
36
116
829
11.81
2.32
0.76
2.43
17.31
Q2’07
663
127
-3
118
906
14.21
2.73
-0.05
2.53
19.42
Q3’07
602
105
139
117
963
13.17
2.30
3.05
2.55
21.07
Q4’07
570
60
80
110
820
14.41
1.51
2.02
2.79
20.73
Q1’08
444
61
73
111
689
13.21
1.82
2.16
3.30
20.50
2
504
116
4
112
736
14.52
3.34
0.12
3.22
21.20
Q2’08
Source: Tonnage data are GFMS Ltd; Value data are WGC calculations based on GFMS data. 1. See footnotes to Table 1 for definitions and notes. 2. Provisional
AUGUST 2008
18
Total 34.28
Gold Demand Trends FOCUS ON: VIETNAM With a population of 85.1m
2
Vietnam is the world’s 13th most
populous country. It is still one of the poorest countries – Gross
Chart 9: Gold demand in Vietnam (tonnes)
National Income at US$790 per head, or $2,550 on a purchasing power parity basis, places it in the World Bank’s “Low Income” category – but its economic growth in recent years has been impressive. Nevertheless, 2008 has seen economic crisis with high infla-
120 100
tion, Dong depreciation and a rising balance of payments current account deficit – and a sharp surge in gold buying as individuals
80
sought to protect their savings from the resulting risks. 60
Vietnam has a long history – over two thousand years – of using gold as money. Historically copper (the word Dong means copper in Vietnamese) and gold were the means of exchange with silver and zinc being added early in the 19th century. Paper money was only introduced in the second half of the 19th century under French
40 20 0
colonial rule. A long-standing history of Chinese influence in the
1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 12 mths to Jun 08
country meant that the Chinese measurement standard of a tael was, and still is, used for gold bars. The tael bar of 37.5 grams
Net retail investment
remains the dominant form of gold investment.
Jewellery
The long years of the Vietnam war in the last century (1945 to 1975,
Source: GFMS Ltd
following immediately on from World War II) saw gold retain its role as a means of saving and a hedge against the many risks of the conflict. After the Communist takeover of the South in 1975, gold
1% in June 2007). Margin trading and gold derivative products were
trading was outlawed until 1988, but the underground market,
authorised in 2005 while gold trading centres and gold bonded
supplying mainly gold bars or gold rings, remained very active due
warehouses were in operation in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi
to raging inflation in the 1980s (which peaked at nearly 1,000% in
by 2007.
1987) and public distrust of the Dong. Statistics do not exist for this period but average annual consumption has been estimated at
Gold jewellery today
around 20 tonnes.
The main occasions for jewellery buying are the wedding season between October and February, Christmas, New Year and the
Consumption rose to around 31 tonnes per year in the early 1990s,
Vietnamese Tet New Year (the same date as the Chinese New Year).
of which around 85% was in the form of gold bars. Offtake rose
Demand doubled between 1995 and the early years of the current
through the 1990s. A World Gold Council presence was established
decade reaching 24 tonnes in 2002 and 2003, and rising further to
from 1995; programmes were introduced to improve jewellery
27 tonnes in 2005, before the increase in the gold price reduced off-
quality, design, merchandising and distribution as well as to sustain
take in volume, although not in value, terms. Jewellery is bought for
investment demand. A ban on imports was introduced in 1997 by
both adornment and for investment with the savings motive being
the State Bank of Vietnam, which controls the gold market, but had
particularly strong in rural areas. Around 50% of gold jewellery sales
limited effect on consumption since gold was smuggled in from
are 24-carat plain items but 18 carat and gemset items are steadily
neighbouring countries.
increasing their share. The industry remains fragmented with few large wholesalers and caters mainly for the domestic market; quality
A deregulation policy, on which the WGC had helped to advise the
and design are not generally high enough to support an export
State Bank, was established in 1999. From 2002, imports were once
trade although the industry is being increasingly influenced by
again officially authorised and from 2003 import tax on bullion was
designs from countries such as Hong Kong and Taiwan. Imported
reduced from 3% to 0.5% (although it was subsequently raised to
jewellery carries a 20% import tax.
2
World Bank data for 2007 – other sources give higher figures.
AUGUST 2008
19
Gold Demand Trends With rising global food and energy costs adding to upward pressure on prices, consumer price inflation in the first half of 2008 averaged
Chart 10: Vietnam economic indicators
16% and is expected to rise to over 20% in the second half year. The
30
current account deficit is forecast to exceed 10% of GDP. This situa-
25
tion provoked an economic crisis in the second quarter of 2008 with
20
the Dong depreciating rapidly, the stock market crashing and the
15
government imposing a series of stabilisation measures including capping price increases and raising interest rates.
10 5
The high level of inflation, fears of Dong depreciation and the plunge
0
in the stock market, along with gold’s own price performance, has
-5
resulted in heavy demand for gold in the first half of 2008 with net investment reaching 31.5 tonnes in Q1 and a further 25.3 tonnes in
-10
Q2 – the total for the two quarters already just outstripping demand
-15 1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
for the whole of 2007. An additional attraction was the interest that
2008 (est)
banks were able to pay on gold deposited with them. High domestic interest rates meant that it was feasible for banks to sell such
Current account as % GDP
gold, lend proceeds of the sale as Dong loans at high domestic
Real GDP change over previous year
interest rates, buy an equivalent amount of gold forward from an Consumer prices change over previous year
international bullion bank, and still make a profit on offering an interest rate - rising to 7% in the second quarter - to the depositor.
Source: IMF, International Financial Statistics, Economist Intelligence Unit
The State Bank had authorised a quota of 73.5 tonnes of gold bullion imports for 2008 as a whole. By June imports had already
Investment
reached 62 tonnes, at a cost of around $1.8bn which was adding to
Inflation has so eroded the value of the Dong that it is now one of
the strains on the Balance of Payments. An import ban was imposed
the two or three lowest value currencies in the world (at the time of
in June, although it is expected that gold will simply be smuggled in
going to press US$1=16,750 Dong). Coupled with the memories
so that consumption will be little affected.
of the political and economic problems of the last seven decades, this has meant a continuing role for gold tael bars not just as a
There are aspects of Vietnamese gold investment which are
means of investment or saving, but also as a means of payment for
unique to the country; demand is clearly boosted by the limitations
major transactions, notably real estate, which are often priced in
of the financial system as well as by the classic motives for gold
tael bars. Vietnam is largely still a cash society and with single
investment that apply world-wide. Gold investment may ultimate-
properties costing up to 3 to 4 billion Dong, payment by banknotes
ly be reduced to some extent once the financial system is mod-
is simply not practical. Tael bars – with one bar currently worth
ernised, which must happen at some point in time, although it
around 19 million Dong – are much more convenient to count and
seems unlikely to happen in the near future. Nevertheless, trust in
check. Demand for bars has thus often been influenced by fluctua-
gold is deeply rooted and has clearly been enhanced by the his-
tions in the property market.
tory of the last 68 years; gold demand should remain solid even once the current crisis is past. Meanwhile, the experience of
Vietnam enjoyed a period of substantial economic success in the
Vietnam amply demonstrates the potential of gold not just as a
current decade with real GDP growth rising from just under 7% at the
means of saving, but as a means of dealing with shortcomings in
turn of the century to 8.5% in 2007. In recent years it has started to
economic policy and financial structure.
attract significant inflows of direct investment from other countries while the stock market index nearly quadrupled between 2005 and 2007. This rapid growth eventually caused the economy to overheat – easy credit and expansionary fiscal policy, coupled with large inflows of foreign capital which were not sterilised by the central bank, resulted in rising inflation from the second half of 2007 and a sharp deterioration in the current account of the balance of payments.
AUGUST 2008
20
Gold Demand Trends Notes and definitions All statistics (except where specified) are in
Retail investment. For the three bar, coin
Industrial demand. The first transformation of
weights of fine gold.
and medallions categories this comprises
raw gold into intermediate or final products des-
Tonne = 1,000 kg or 32,151 troy oz of fine gold. Na
= not available
…
= not applicable
individuals’ purchases of coins and bars
tined for industrial use such as gold potassium
defined according to the standard adopted by
cyanide, gold bonding wire, sputtering targets.
the European Union for investment gold.
This includes gold destined for plating jewellery.
Medallions of at least 99% purity, wires and lumps
Dental. The first transformation of raw gold into
sold in small quantities are also included. In prac-
intermediate or final products destined for dental
Mine production. Formal and informal output.
tice this includes the initial sale of many coins
applications such as dental alloys.
Net producer hedging. The change in the
destined ultimately to be considered as numis-
Tourist purchases and “luggage trade”.
physical market impact of mining companies’
matic rather than bullion. It excludes second hand
Purchases by foreign visitors which are normally
gold loans, forwards and options positions.
coins and is measured as net purchases.
for their own use or for gifts are included in
Official sector sales. Gross sales less gross
“Other” retail investment refers to Western
demand in the country of purchase. Bulk pur-
purchases by central banks and other official
Europe and North America. It includes net
chases by foreign visitors (“luggage trade”) which
institutions. Swaps and the effect of delta hedging
investment in physical bullion as defined by the
appear to be intended for resale in the visitors’
are excluded.
EU (other than new coins which are included in
country of origin or a third country are attributed
Old gold scrap. Gold sourced from old fabri-
the two coin categories), individuals’ paper trans-
to the country in which they are resold.
cated products which has been recovered and
actions with a direct physical counterpart plus
Revisions to data. All data may be subject to
refined back into bars.
Over The Counter activity and changes in metal
revision in the light of new information.
Jewellery. All newly-made carat jewellery and
account holdings where measurable and retail
gold watches, whether plain gold or combined
targeted.
Historical data
with other materials. It excludes second-hand
Consumer demand. The sum of jewellery
Data covering a longer time period will be avail-
jewellery, other metals plated with gold, coins and
and retail investment purchases for a country –
able on Bloomberg from August 18th; alterna-
bars used as jewellery and purchases funded by
ie the amount of gold acquired directly by
tively contact GFMS Ltd (+44 (0)20 7478 1777;
the trading in of existing jewellery.
individuals.
[email protected]).
Sources, copyright and disclaimers © 2008 The World Gold Council and GFMS Ltd. All rights reserved. This document is World Gold
Issued by:
Council (WGC) commentary and analysis based on gold supply and demand statistics compiled by
World Gold Council
GFMS Ltd for the WGC along with some additional data. See individual tables for specific source
55 Old Broad Street
information.
London EC2M 1RX United Kingdom
No organisation or individual is permitted to disseminate the statistics relating to gold supply and demand in this report without the written agreement of both copyright owners. However, the use of these statistics is permitted for review and commentary (including media commentary), subject to the two pre-conditions that follow. The first pre-condition is that only limited data extracts be used. The second precondition is that all use of these statistics is accompanied by a clear acknowledgement
www.gold.org Tel:
+44 (0)20 7826 4700
Fax: +44 (0)20 7826 4799 For further information, contact: Matt Graydon, Head of External Relations
of GFMS and, where appropriate, the WGC, as their source. Brief extracts from the commentary and other WGC material are permitted provided WGC is cited as the source.
World Gold Council Tel: +44 (0) 20 7826 4716 E-mail:
[email protected]
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this document, neither the WGC nor GFMS Ltd can guarantee such accuracy. Furthermore, the material contained herewith has no regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of
Jill Leyland, Economic Adviser to the World Gold Council Tel: +44 (0) 20 7826 4709
any specific recipient or organisation. It is published solely for informational purposes and is not to
or +44 (0) 1689 813397
be construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell gold, any gold-related products, commodities,
E-mail:
[email protected]
securities or related financial instruments. No representation or warranty, either express or implied,
Rozanna Wozniak, Investment Research
is provided in relation to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information contained here-
Manager, World Gold Council
in. The WGC and GFMS Ltd do not accept responsibility for any losses or damages arising directly,
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7826 4758
or indirectly, from the use of this document.
E-mail:
[email protected]
AUGUST 2008
21