India’s quarterly gold import plunges by 23%

18 Nov 2011 Evaluate

India, the world’s largest importer of gold, saw a sharp decline for the first time in the last five quarters. The demand fell 23% y-o-y from 263.9 tonnes to 203.3 tonnes in July-September 2011. The 23% decline in import of gold is on the back of the high inflation, which have adversely affected the demand for gold. 

The World Gold Council (WCG) said, ‘Gold imports to India, the world's biggest consumer of bullion, fell for the first time in five quarters by a fifth to 200 tonnes in July-Sept. As surging inflation adversely impacted disposable incomes.’

In the same period of time, India’s jewellery demand also fell by 26% to 125.3 tonnes whereas investment demand also declined by 18% to 78 tonnes.  As per market experts, high prices and a fall in the rupee against the dollar hurt demand for the yellow metal significantly. Gold prices in India went up 18.35% against an international price increase of 8.24% during the September quarter. As a result, in value terms, the overall demand went up 5.6% to Rs 51,028.3 crore as against Rs 48,354.48 crore in the same quarter last year.

WGC managing director Ajay Mitra said, 'the third quarter of 2011 has seen some difficult times for gold not just in India but around the world'. Double-digit inflation coupled with depreciation of the Indian rupee exaggerated the fall in demand.

However, the WGC expects gold demand to grow in the remaining months of 2011 as the festival and wedding seasons may encourage a demand recovery. Further the good monsoon, in the first quarter of 2012, rural India’s incomes is expected to increase, which will also support the demand for gold as it account for 60% of the total demand. 'We look forward to periods of increased price stability resulting in Indian consumers being able to build gold purchases in to their household budgets,' said Mitra.

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