China imported record 1,141 tonnes of gold in first 8 months of 2026, on pace to exceed 1,700 tonnes annually amid economic uncertainty and strong yuan.
Macro & Markets ·
China brought in 1,141 tonnes of gold during the first eight months of 2026, surpassing its full-year 2025 total and marking the highest import volume for this period on record. At the current pace, annual imports could exceed 1,700 tonnes for the first time. Gold holdings in Chinese ETFs expanded by 44 tonnes in the same eight-month window, representing an 18 percent increase compared to the prior year, with the buying activity attributed to robust domestic investment appetite, macroeconomic uncertainty, and currency strength that lowered acquisition costs from international suppliers.