Why China’s Gold Buying Spree Outweighs India’s Pause

China’s bar and coin gold demand hit a record 207 tonnes in Q1 2026 while India paused on a 15% import duty hike. Here’s why the divergence matters — and what it means for your physical gold allocation.
Gold Fell. China Bought Its Most in 17 Months. Here’s Why.

Five things drove gold and silver lower this week — a stronger dollar, spiking Treasury yields, the hottest US producer inflation in over three years, a new Federal Reserve chair, and a Trump-Xi summit with no deal. All five are documented and short-term. Meanwhile, the People’s Bank of China quietly made its largest gold purchase in 17 months. That contrast is the story.
