History of Gold – Interesting Facts and Changes Over 50 Years

Thomson Reuters GFMS have compiled an interesting high level history of the gold industry in the last fifty years.

Topics covered and interesting historical facts to note include:

– Gold market size
– Gold mine production “peaked in 2015”
– South African production collapse from 1,000 tonnes
– South African gold was flown to London and Zurich and an airliner had its own designated landing areas at Heathrow where gold moved directly from the place to secure vaults
– It may still do – that is shrouded in secrecy!
– Political concerns in France in 1968 saw massive demand
– Strong demand in Japan in late 1980s when insurance companies were investing up to 3% of portfolios in gold
– Record demand in the wake of the financial crisis
– Investment in gold – Coin and bar demand rising globally
– Massive uptake of bullion in the Far East, especially China
– History of gold shows gold’s continuing importance as safe haven asset

Demand for physical gold investment. Source: GFMS Gold Survey

GFMS Gold Survey is recognized as an important source of information on developments in the gold market and have celebrated the Gold Survey’s 50th anniversary, by conducting a high-level look at the history of the gold market in the past half century.

Access How the gold industry has changed over 50 years here

GFMS Gold Survey 2003-2015

- Click to enlarge