GFN – BEIJING: China imported 163 tons of gold in May, the most in more than two years, as physical bullion demand and a revised import-licensing regime pulled metal into the world's largest consumer even with prices a quarter below their January peak.The figure, drawn from Chinese customs data reported by Bloomberg, brought imports for the first five months of 2026 to roughly 692 tons, an increase of about 76% from the same period a year earlier. The May total was the highest monthly volume since March 2024 and coincided with a new import-licensing regime that took effect on June 1, under which certain banks face fewer restrictions on bringing metal into the country. Demand has centered on physical bullion bars and on metal tied to gold accumulation plans offered to domestic savers, even as the spot price has fallen about a quarter from the record high reached in January."Chinese demand for physical bullion bars, as well as metal linked to gold accumulation plans, have been among the main drivers of the surge," said Song Jiangzhen, a researcher at the Guangzhou Southern Gold Market Academy.Gold (GLD) is down about 22% from its January 29, 2026 record, yet China's monthly imports hit a two-year high in May. Source: Yahoo Finance.China Keeps Buying When Americans Sell
China Imports 163 Tons of Gold in May, Most in Over Two Years
China's gold imports hit 163 tons in May, the most since March 2024, even as prices sit a quarter below January's record.
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