WGC: Gold Bar and Coin Investment Soared in First Quarter

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Gold Demand Trends Q1 2021 Report published by the World Gold Council (WGC) points to significant decline in total gold investments. The Q1 investment totalled 161.6 tonnes, down by 71% compared with the corresponding quarter a year before. Meantime, the investment in gold bars and coins witnessed notable surge during the quarter.

The bar and coin investment touched 339.5 tonnes, registering the third consecutive quarter of growth. Also, this is the highest level since Q4 2016 and 37% higher than the five-year quarterly average of 248.5 tonnes. The growth in investment was mainly triggered by bargain-hunting in key markets around the world, especially China.

The Chinese bar and coin demand totalled 86 tonnes in the first quarter of 2021, surging higher by 133% over the previous year. The bar and coin investment benefited from improved economic conditions and sharp decline in local gold prices.

The bar and coin demand soared 34% year-on-year to 37.5 tonnes in Q1, thus recording the strongest first quarter since 2015. The key factors that contributed to demand surge include lower domestic gold prices and improving economic indicators.

The U.S. investment demand for gold bars and coins skyrocketed by 77% to 26.3 tonnes. This exceeded the five-year quarterly average of 12 tonnes by more than double. Meantime, the investment in Turkey almost doubled from 21 tonnes in Q1 last year to 44.3 tonnes in Q1 2021.

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