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RPT-China problems new gold import quotas after time out - sources

Numerous Chinese banks have been given new gold import quotas from the central bank, preparing for restored demand despite record high prices, four sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The brand-new quotas, focused on helping the People's Bank of China ( PBOC) control how much bullion enters the world's leading consumer of the precious metal, were granted in August after a. two-month pause mainly due to slower physical demand in the. wake of a bullish market.

Spot gold has gained 21% so far this year, having. struck successive record highs, striking a peak of $2,500.99 per. ounce by 1354 GMT on Friday as the dollar damaged and markets. significantly see U.S. financial reducing on the horizon in. September.

Strong Chinese purchasing was an essential factor in bullion's. March-April rally and if demand picks up once again, it might even more. boost rates, experts said.

The quotas have been issued but the local premium to. offshore is low so there is no assurance that the quotas will be. utilized till things improve, among the sources said.

Jewellery need is still weak but financial investment need is. healthy.

The PBOC did not right away react to Reuters' ask for. comment.

China has a history of cutting gold import quotas for. a number of months when the yuan currency is weak versus the. dollar. Nevertheless, this year's time out was led by the banks. themselves amid soft need, sources stated.

Real gold imports have actually been limited due to controlled. demand. This recommends that the Chinese market is currently. well-supplied with physical gold. The PBOC's ongoing time out on. gold purchases enhances the concept of adequate domestic supply,. said Bernard Sin, regional director of Greater China at precious. metals trader and refinery MKS PAMP. China's central bank held back on buying gold for its reserves. for a third straight month in July and gold holdings stood at. 72.8 million fine troy ounces at the end of last month. The PBOC. was the world's biggest single buyer of gold in 2023, with internet. purchases of 7.23 million ounces, according to the World Gold. Council (WGC). In another sign of soft demand, dealerships in China were offering. a discount rate of $8.5 to a $5 premium an ounce on international. spot rates today compared with a premium of as high as $18. recently.

Present low trading volumes on the Shanghai Gold Exchange. ( SGE) also indicated weak activity, said Hugo Pascal, precious. metals trader at InProved, however added volumes generally begin to. get again at the end of August through September.

Evaluating by the resilience of gold in the U.S., I do not see. why Chinese consumers will refrain from it..

(source: Reuters)