US imports of gold jewellery rose to a seven-year high in October while platinum jewellery imports surged by more than 60 percent after precious metal prices fell to multiyear lows, Thomson Reuters GFMS calculations showed. "The United States continued to import large volumes of gold jewellery in October," Erica Rannestad, senior analyst of precious metals demand at GFMS, said in an email late on Wednesday.
"Gold prices averaged 25 percent lower that month than a year earlier, buoying demand for jewellery made with gold amid a strong United States dollar." US imports of gold jewellery reached 7,082 kg (227,691 oz) in October, up 9 percent from a year earlier and the highest level since November 2008. For the first 10 months of 2015, imports were up 13 percent from year-ago levels, Rannestad said. Annual growth was steady with September at 13 percent and down from 21 percent in August, she said. "Gold prices rose in much of October, only to fall toward lower lows in November compared to July's low prices," Rannestad said. "This fall in gold prices may have brought forward some gold jewellery import demand that month."
Spot gold ended 2015 down more than 10 percent after a steady decline took bullion prices to the lowest level in nearly six years in December at $1,045.85 per ounce, with the market under pressure by expectations for the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates for the first time in nearly 10 years. The Fed finally raised rates in mid-December, a move deemed bearish for gold prices as it lifts the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.
Platinum jewellery imports jumped to 169 kg in October, up 63 percent from October 2014. For the first 10 months of 2015, US platinum jewellery imports rose 46 percent from year-ago levels as the average price for the metal was down 24 percent. "While the falling platinum price has been a major contributor to higher platinum jewellery imports, it should also be noted that lower platinum jewellery retail prices, a stronger United States dollar, a falling platinum-gold price ratio, and higher disposable incomes per capita have pushed imports and demand higher," Rannestad said.