Gold import volume up in FY16's first half

WGC reports import figures at 464 tonnes in April-September, as against 431 tonnes in the same quarter last year

India’s gold import bill rose 19 per cent in the first half of the current financial year (April 1 to September 30), despite government efforts to reduce this.

The balance of payments data, issued on Tuesday, showed $17.5 billion (Rs 1.16 lakh crore) of import in the period, from $14.65 bn in the corresponding period last year.

“Clearly, consumers’ appetite has not reduced despite the government’s effort to do so through sovereign gold bonds,” said a senior executive in the sector, not wishing to be named.

The bill for the July to September quarter was $9.9 bn, a 31 per cent rise from $7.6 bn in the same period last year. And, a 33 per cent jump from the import bill of $7.5 bn in the April–June quarter this year.

The World Gold Council, market development organisation for the mining industry, had estimated India’s gold import at 464 tonnes in April–September, as against 431 tonnes in the same quarter last year. During the September quarter last year, the import was 501 tonnes. The total for 2014-15 was 961 tonnes of import; this year, WGC believes, it will exceed 1,000 tonnes. G V Sreedhar, chairman of the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation, concurs, noting the sharp global fall in gold prices.

Gold prices have been falling consistently over six quarters. In July–September, the average was $1,125.3 an ounce, from $1,282.1 an oz in the same quarter last year and $1,193.7 an oz in the June quarter this year. Which also means the import bill is likely to be five or six per cent less in value terms, despite a rise in volumes.

“2015 has been a fascinating year for the gold market, with strong demand from central banks, Asian markets and the European bar and coin market. The pro-gold schemes introduced by the Indian government and further internationalisation of the renminbi (Cina's currency), alongside the increasing transparency of Chinese gold reserves, will continue to improve the market next year. Gold’s role as a portfolio diversifier, a wealth preservation tool and a tail-risk hedge will continue to prevail, due to expensive stock valuations and high liquidity risks. Finally gold’s cultural significance endures as we look ahead to 2016,” said Alistair Hewitt, head of market intelligence at WGC.

  Asian markets continue to be strong drivers of demand, with both India and China's up year-on-year as of the financial year's third quarter.