Release of the China Gold Yearbook and the Chinese editions of the Global Gold, Platinum-Palladium, and Silver Yearbooks

On July 28, 2020, the China Gold Association, the World Gold Council, and UK-based Metals Focus jointly held an online press conference in Beijing to launch the China Gold Yearbook 2020, the Global Gold Yearbook 2020 (Chinese edition), the Global Silver Yearbook 2020 (Chinese edition), and the Global Platinum-Palladium Yearbook 2020 (Chinese edition). The China Gold Yearbook—compiled annually by the China Gold Association—is the most authoritative annual analytical report on China’s gold industry, gold market, and gold consumption. First published in 2002, it has now been issued continuously for 18 years, serving as a comprehensive window into the current status and development of China’s gold industry. The Chinese editions of the Global Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium Yearbooks each provide comprehensive, detailed data on supply and demand, along with in-depth forecasts for market trends in 2020, from their respective sectoral perspectives. Their English-language editions were recently launched in London. These four yearbooks are rich in information and data, and possess strong historical documentary value. The publication of the three 2020 Chinese-language yearbooks is highly significant for meeting domestic industry demand for international information on gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, and for filling critical gaps in available foreign precious metals industry data. The China Gold Yearbook 2020 provides an in-depth analysis of the status and future development trends of the gold industry chain, based on extensive data. It is the only publication comprehensively reflecting both the development of China’s gold industry and trends in the gold market, making it essential reading and a vital reference tool for professionals in the gold industry and for all members of society interested in its development. The Yearbook is now broadly structured around five major sections: industry, enterprises, science & technology, consumption, and markets—covering the entire upstream-to-downstream industrial chain, including exploration, mining, smelting, refining, trading, processing, sales, applications, investment, and more. The China Gold Association has established a nationwide gold information collection network, conducting regular or ad hoc tracking surveys of the gold industry’s operational conditions. Each year, it collects hundreds of thousands of data points from hundreds of gold enterprises—a function authorized by the National Bureau of Statistics, which designates the Association as the authoritative body for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating gold industry information. The China Gold Yearbook 2020 fully reflects the status, achievements, and challenges facing China’s gold industry in 2019. As of the end of 2019, China’s proven gold resources totaled 14,131.06 tonnes, up 3.61% year-on-year. China’s proven gold resources have increased for 15 consecutive years and have exceeded 10,000 tonnes for five consecutive years. In 2019, China’s gold output stood at 380.226 tonnes (excluding gold produced from imported raw materials), down 20.894 tonnes—or 5.21%—year-on-year. Nevertheless, China remained the world’s top gold producer, holding the number-one position for the 13th consecutive year since 2007. Output declines in key gold-producing provinces—including Henan, Fujian, and Xinjiang—were driven by factors such as the withdrawal of mining rights from nature reserves, policies on mining rights transfer revenue, classification of cyanide tailings as hazardous waste, and depletion of mine resources. In 2019, Shandong Gold Group ranked among the world’s top ten gold mining companies, producing 47.94 tonnes of mine gold, of which 8.47 tonnes came from overseas operations; Zijin Mining Group ranked thirteenth globally, producing 40.83 tonnes of mine gold, including 25.53 tonnes from overseas.

Gold prices remain persistently high, yet risks facing gold processing and sales intensify; gold jewelry sales decline by 3%

According to information obtained by the China Business News from the China Gold Association on April 26, national gold consumption in the first quarter of this year reached 308.905 tonnes, up 5.94% year-on-year. Of this total, gold jewelry accounted for 183.922 tonnes, down 3.00% year-on-year; gold bars and coins totaled 106.323 tonnes, up 26.77% year-on-year; and gold used in industry and other sectors amounted to 18.660 tonnes, up 3.09% year-on-year. “The high gold price in Q1 2024 has led to a polarization in gold consumption,” stated the China Gold Association. “Rapidly rising gold prices—combined with high fabrication charges and brand premiums for gold jewelry—have heightened consumer caution, thereby partially suppressing gold jewelry consumption and increasing sales pressure on retailers. Elevated and highly volatile gold prices have also amplified operational risks for gold processing and sales enterprises. Wholesale and retail businesses have become more cautious in procurement, while gold jewelry fabricators face rising raw material costs and declining shipment volumes; some small- and medium-sized processing enterprises have even suspended operations or granted staff leave. By contrast, surging safe-haven demand has drawn strong attention to physical gold investment, driving substantial growth in gold bar and coin purchases—products that carry relatively lower premiums. Additionally, according to statistics from the China Gold Association, in Q1 of this year, the Shanghai Gold Exchange recorded cumulative bilateral trading volume across all gold products of 15,300 tonnes (7,600 tonnes on a unilateral basis), up 32.29% year-on-year, with a total bilateral transaction value of RMB 7.49 trillion (RMB 3.74 trillion on a unilateral basis), up 54.73% year-on-year. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Futures Exchange recorded cumulative bilateral trading volume across all gold products of 29,000 tonnes (14,500 tonnes on a unilateral basis), up 14.89% year-on-year, with a total bilateral transaction value of RMB 12.53 trillion (RMB 6.26 trillion on a unilateral basis), up 33.98% year-on-year.

China Gold Association Disputes Forced Labor Allegations Against Refinery

Aug 19, 2026

The China Gold Association disputes the LBMA's suspension of Shandong Gold over forced labor allegations, citing supply chain disruption. Sanctions also affect Zijin Mining while copper, oil, and iron ore markets see concurrent activity.

bloomberg

China Gold Association Disputes Forced Labor Allegations Against Refinery

FAQ