世界黄金协会5月5日发布的《全球黄金需求趋势报告》显示，今年一季度多国央行购金需求大涨，全球央行黄金储备增加了228吨。与此同时，中国金饰消费总量同比增长11%，环比增长56%，是2015年以来金饰需求最强劲的季度表现。
An employee sorts gold ornaments at a jewelry shop in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province. [Photo by SI WEI/FOR CHINA DAILY]世界黄金协会5月5日公布，一季度中国金饰消费总量为198吨，同比增长11%，环比增长56%，是2015年以来金饰需求最强劲的一季度表现。
China's gold jewelry consumption reached 198 metric tons in the first quarter, up 11 percent year-on-year (56 percent quarter-on-quarter), marking the highest level for the quarter since 2015, the World Gold Council said on Friday.世界黄金协会将此归因于中国经济复苏和优化防疫措施后积压需求的释放。
The WGC attributed the rise to a recovering economy and pentup demand as China optimized its COVID-19 control measures.世界黄金协会中国区首席执行官王立新指出，随着疫情限制的放松，婚庆金饰需求有所提高。与其他珠宝相比，更多消费者选择购买黄金等避险资产。
Wang Lixin, the regional CEO of the WGC (China), said: "Pentup demand for gold jewelry used for weddings improved thanks to the optimization of COVID-19 control measures. More consumers are also turning to gold compared with other jewelry given its perceived safe-haven status."王立新表示，一季度单件相对较低克重的硬足金产品需求大涨，在当前金价上涨的背景下，硬金饰品硬度更大、设计时尚，价格也比较低。与此同时，包含本土文化设计元素和中国传统元素的古法金饰品依然占据市场重要份额。
Wang said demand for hard, pure gold jewelry products, a type of pure gold products featuring relatively lighter per-piece weight, saw soaring demand in the first quarter thanks to their extra hardness, stylish designs and affordability amid the rise of gold prices. While heritage gold jewelry, a type of pure gold products featuring local cultural designs and Chinese traditional elements, retained a vital share of the market.中国金条、金币的投资需求也大幅增加。一季度金条和金币销量总计66吨，同比增长34%，环比增长7%，创下自2019年以来最强劲的第一季度需求。世界黄金协会将其归功于中国防疫措施的优化和金价的上涨。
Investment demand in the gold bars and coins segment also soared in China. Gold bar and coin sales totaled 66 tons in the first quarter, up 34 percent year-on-year (7 percent quarter-on-quarter). The WGC said this is the strongest first quarter since 2019 for the segment, mainly driven by China's optimization of COVID-19 measures and the gold price performance.世界黄金协会指出，本季度金价接近1890美元/盎司的历史平均高点。
According to the WGC, gold price neared record average highs for the quarter at $1,890 per ounce.协会指出，在市场波动性和风险加剧的时期，世界各国央行大规模持续购金突显了黄金在国际储备投资组合中的作用。
The council said that sustained and significant purchases by central banks across the world underscored gold's role in international reserve portfolios during times of market volatility and heightened risks.协会称，多国央行的购金需求在一季度现大幅增长，创下同期历史高点，全球央行黄金储备增加了228吨。
Central banks helped boost demand by adding 228 tons to global reserves, also a first-quarter record high, the WGC said.世界黄金协会资深市场分析师路易丝·斯特里特表示，在银行业动荡、持续的地缘政治紧张局势和充满挑战的经济环境大背景下，黄金作为避险资产的作用不断凸显。在这种情况下，今年黄金的投资需求很可能会增加，尤其在美元走强和加息等不利因素走弱的条件下。
"Against the backdrop of turmoil in the banking sector, ongoing geopolitical tensions and a challenging economic environment, gold's role as a safe-haven asset has come to the fore. In this landscape, it is likely that investment demand will grow this year, especially with waning headwinds from the strong US dollar and interest rate hikes," said Louise Street, senior markets analyst at the WGC.斯特里特称：“央行购金也可能会保持强劲，即使购金量或低于去年的历史高点，也依然可能成为2023年全年支撑黄金需求的基石。”
"Central bank buying is likely to remain strong and will be a cornerstone of demand throughout 2023 — even if at lower levels than the record highs seen last year," Street said.世界黄金协会指出，全球地缘政治紧张以及各国央行持续购金影响了许多中国投资者投资实物黄金的决定。
According to the WGC, elevated geopolitical tensions worldwide and continued gold purchases from global central banks influenced many Chinese investors' physical gold investment decisions.展望后市，尽管二季度是中国黄金需求的传统淡季，但黄金实物投资需求在今年二季度的表现有可能超过往年同期。世界黄金协会将其归因于中国经济持续复苏和消费者对避险资产的兴趣持续增加。
Looking ahead, China might see a stronger-than-usual demand for physical gold investment in the second quarter, which is a traditional off-season for gold demand in the country, according to the WGC, which attributed the strong demand to continued economic revival and consumers' increasing interest in safe-haven assets.