Vietnam ended its 13-year state monopoly on gold production and trade. This landmark ruling gives the green light for private players, operating under a license from the central bank. Now, they are able to mint, export, and import gold bullion actively. Vietnam’s big gamble—the country’s embrace of private investment—is poised to rattle the global gold market. This change will have a tremendous impact on the future direction of international trade.
Relatedly, in Japan, gold exports have recently skyrocketed resulting in fears that large-scale gold smuggling rings might be thriving in the shadows of this boom. Reports indicate that Japan’s burgeoning gold export market may hint at underlying illegal activities as buyers seek to capitalize on rising prices. At the same time, demand for gold within China has skyrocketed, especially as tensions with the United States have intensified. Chinese buyers are said to be boosting “stateless” gold to unprecedented levels, getting around informal trade barriers and international sanctions.
The global gold market is going through a historic transition. Australia is now fully prepared to export its gold as well as it does coal. Gold is set to become Australia’s third biggest export commodity, analysts anticipate, as demand for the precious metal grows worldwide. Australian mining company Lynas Corporation has completed a A$478 million (US$488 million) placement to fund its planned expansions in Malaysia. This unprecedented move underscores the growing importance of gold and rare-earth minerals in the area.
Across the archipelago in Indonesia, optimism is riding high on the islands of gold as miners there look ahead to a booming 2025. Prices have tumbled though all-time high records, resulting in even higher expectations for future performance. The reality for Indonesia’s mining sector The memories of a battle over reforming operation permits These problems have the potential to hamstring them when it comes to cashing in on positive market conditions.
Gold futures surged to new records in reaction to yesterday’s news of possible new U.S. tariff impositions. Investors are closely watching all of these moves as they continue to work their way through the new, unpredictable landscape of global trade and changing market conditions.
At the same time, China is exerting pressure on Myanmar’s ethnic rebel groups. This decision is a strategic play to ensure access to critical rare-earths for their manufacturing market. This tactical move is part of China’s long game. It seeks to shore up its competitiveness within global supply chains as competition from other countries and geopolitical tensions increase.