Global gold demand rose a modest 2% year-on-year to 1,231 tonnes in the January-March quarter, driven by a sharp 42% surge in bar and coin investment to 474 tonnes amid geopolitical tensions and higher prices, according to the World Gold Council report released on Wednesday (April 29, 2026).
The WGC's Q1 2026 Gold Demand Trends report revealed that total quarterly gold demand, including OTC, increased by 2% year-on-year to 1,231 tonnes in the January-March quarter, compared to 1,205 tonnes in the corresponding period of 2025.