Virus chaos slashes India’s gold imports to lowest since 2009

By Shruti Srivastava and Swansy Afonso


India’s gold imports in 2020 slumped to the bottom in additional than a decade because the coronavirus pandemic battered demand and logistics, whereas larger costs stored consumers within the second-largest consuming nation on the sidelines.

Overseas purchases fell to 275.5 tons final yr, based on an individual acquainted with the information, who requested to not be recognized as the knowledge isn’t public. That’s the bottom in information going again to 2009, based on World Gold Council knowledge.

Imports in December rose 18% from a yr earlier to 55.four tons, the particular person stated. Finance Ministry spokesman Rajesh Malhotra didn’t instantly reply to a name to his cell phone.

Consumption in India stumbled for a second yr as document excessive native costs curbed demand and lockdowns to manage the virus battered the economic system and restricted motion. Fewer flights as a result of virus-related curbs additionally stored a lid on imports as India meets most of its gold wants from abroad markets.

“In the last few months we have seen that though retail sales picked up, the recycling of scrap sale has increased with people using old gold to buy,” Ashish Pethe, chairman of All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council, stated by telephone.

While demand from retail customers has eased, the steel remains to be a haven for traders. Local gold futures, which reached a document excessive in August, surged almost 30% in 2020, the largest bounce in 9 years.

While demand will choose up because the economic system recovers, it’s unlikely that the trade will return to regular as individuals will acquire confidence solely after a profitable vaccination drive, Pethe stated.

“By June-July, people will get the vaccine and have more confidence so we will see good activity only in the last three to four months during the festive season,” Pethe stated.