May Withdrawals on the SGE 2008 -2018

Gold Withdrawals Continue at a Robust Pace on the Shanghai Gold Exchange

Gold News
The Shanghai Gold Exchange Reports Nearly 900 Tons of Gold Withdrawn through May.

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has not reported adding any gold to reserves since October 2016. That was the month that the Chinese Yuan was admitted to the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights. Since 2016, the PBOC gold reserves have stood at 1843 tons.

Top ten gold holding nations may 20 2018

While the PBOC has not added any gold, demand for gold in China remains strong when measured by imports into Hong Kong and withdrawals on the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE). 2018 is shaping up to be the second or third best year in terms of gold withdrawn on the SGE.

Gold withdrawals on the (SGE) through May 2018 were 898 tons. Gold withdrawals on the SGE are often considered a proxy for physical gold demand in China and that demand continues to be strong. Indeed SGE withdrawals through May were the third highest amount in the exchange’s history.

The Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) monthly gold withdrawals topped over 150 tons in May. For the first five months of 2018, gold withdrawals on the SGE were 898 tons vs 829 tons through the first five months of 2017 and 835 tons through the first five months of 2016. Only the first five months of 2013 when 983 tons were withdrawn and 2013 when 918 tons were withdrawn have been higher.

Shanghai gold exchange withdrawals though May 2008 -2018

May 2018 withdrawals of 151 tons of gold were the third highest May total in the SGE’s history, topped only by 2013’s record 224 tons of gold and 2015’s 162 tons withdrawn.

May Withdrawals on the SGE 2008 -2018

The SGE has been reporting significant monthly withdrawals annually since 2013. In 2015, the SGE reported a record 2,597 tons of gold had been withdrawn, an amount roughly equal to the annual global gold mining production. Robust gold demand as measured by Shanghai Gold Exchange withdrawals continued in 2017. The pace of gold withdrawals in 2018 is slightly ahead of 2017’s pace through the first five months.

Shanghai gold exchange withdrawals though May 2008 -2018

Shanghai Gold Exchange Annual withdrawals 2008 - 2018 through May

Monthly withdrawals on the SGE since 2013 have often topped 200 tons. The chart below illustrates the big jump in monthly withdrawals in recent years.

SGE withdrawals by month through May 2018

In addition to a rapidly growing SGE, Chinese gold imports have also soared in recent years through Hong Kong and Shanghai. Chinese gold imports through Hong Kong peaked at 1,158 tons in 2013 and were 861 tons in 2015 and 770 tons in 2016. In 2017, Chinese gold imports through Hong Kong were about 628 tons. From 2004- 2008 Chinese gold imports through Hong Kong were only 339 tons.

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While China has aimed for increased transparency in its gold holdings and imports, it does not yet disclose gold imports through Shanghai.

China is also the world’s largest producing nation having mined approximately 450 tons of gold a year for the past two years.

With an increasingly wealthy population of well over one billion, China is expected to play a greater role in gold consumption and gold pricing in the coming years.

About the Shanghai Gold Exchange

The Shanghai Gold Exchange on October 30, 2002, by the People’s Bank of China and organizes the trading of gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals.

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This article by BGASC is not, and should not be regarded as, investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular course of action.