Yvonne Blaszczyk: Gold to Keep Rising as Global Paradigm Shift Plays Out
Gold demand surged to a record high in 2024, driven by buying from central banks and individual investors.
Data from the World Gold Council’s (WGC) latest report on gold demand shows that in 2024, total annual demand for gold, including over-the-counter transactions, reached a record-breaking 4,974 metric tons (MT).
Annual demand was up by 1 percent year-on-year from 2023’s 4,945.9 MT.
Central banks added more than 1,000 MT of gold to their reserves for the third consecutive year, while investment demand hit a four year high, supported by a strong performance in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Central banks lead gold demand
Central banks remained the largest drivers of gold demand in 2024. As a group, they made cumulative net purchases of 1,045 MT in 2024, with the fourth quarter alone accounting for 333 MT.
The National Bank of Poland led the upsurge, purchasing 90 MT of the yellow metal in 2024, while other emerging market central banks also contributed significantly to the overall total.
This heightened demand from central banks marks a continuous shift in the global monetary system, with central banks increasingly favoring gold as a hedge against currency volatility and geopolitical tensions.
2024 was the third year in a row in which central banks’ gold purchases exceeded 1,000 MT, marking a notable increase compared to the pre-2022 average of 473 MT.
Despite questions about future demand, central banks are expected to maintain their purchasing momentum into 2025, particularly as geopolitical risks continue to influence policy decisions.
Investor demand supports gold ETF growth
Gold’s appeal to individual investors also remained robust in 2024, particularly in gold ETFs.
Investment demand for the precious metal reached 1,180 MT for the year, a 25 percent increase from 2023, with ETFs drawing significant inflows, especially in the second half of the year. These inflows were driven by factors including lower interest rates, geopolitical instability and a strengthening gold price.
In contrast to the previous three years, during which gold ETFs experienced substantial outflows, 2024 saw near-stagnant holdings by the end of the year, showing a marked shift in investor sentiment.
Market participants increasingly turned to gold as a safe haven, and the US market in particular witnessed considerable ETF inflows, driven by the relative weakness of the US dollar and concerns over inflation.
Gold jewelry demand struggles as price climbs
While investment demand soared, the jewelry sector struggled in 2024, with global jewelry consumption falling by 11 percent to 1,877 MT. The significant gold price rise during the year led to lower volumes of gold jewelry being purchased, as consumers found it increasingly difficult to afford the yellow metal.
The weakness in jewelry…
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