Chinese households are shifting from gold jewelry to plain bullion bars and coins as a safe-haven store of wealth, China Daily reports. China Gold Association data show first-half 2026 consumption reached 511.41 tonnes, up 1.23% year-on-year — but while jewelry demand plunged 33.88% to 132.13 tons, bar and coin consumption surged 28.42% to 339.34 tons.
An S&P Global report frames the trend as part of a broader wave of gold accumulation across emerging economies, spanning household asset allocation, domestic mining expansion, central-bank reserve building, and cross-border financial infrastructure.
