First, the basic situation of Singapore's gold and jewelry market
Singapore is the largest gold distribution center in Asia, and its gold jewelry mainly comes from Malaysia, Canada, Italy and other countries. More than 90% of the imported gold jewelry is re-exported to other places, including India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Middle Eastern countries, the United States and other markets, and only a small amount is sold locally. According to statistics, in 20001year, Singapore imported 506 million US dollars of gold jewelry, of which about11900 million US dollars was imported from China, accounting for only 0.23% of the total new gold jewelry imports. Therefore, I still have considerable room to develop new exports.
From the perspective of Singapore's gold jewelry market, only about 65,438+00% of gold ornaments are designed and processed locally in Singapore, while only some gold animals and statues are imported from China, with a relatively small market share. According to the president of Singapore Diamond Jewelry Association, Singapore's gold jewelry is imported and exported in strict accordance with international standards, with high quality, good reputation and fine craftsmanship, and enjoys a high reputation in the world.
It is reported that the sales volume of gold jewelry in Singapore in the first quarter of this year was more than 4,000 kilograms. The second quarter coincides with the hot sale of goods in Singapore every June. Both the import volume and sales volume of gold increased significantly, and the number of customers who bought gold increased by 10% to 20% compared with usual. The retail price of gold in Singapore is adjusted with the fluctuation of world gold price. Singapore Diamond Jewelry Association usually adjusts the price of gold when it fluctuates by about 3% to 5%.
Recently, due to a series of terrorist incidents, a series of enterprises went bankrupt, gold production declined, and the price of gold rose. The tension between India and Pakistan further promoted the price increase. At present, the world gold price has risen to the highest level in two and a half years, which is $320 per ounce. On May 30th, Singapore raised the price of gold, with 24K gold raised from S $23 to 24 yuan (about RMB 1 10 yuan) and 9 16 gold raised from S $2 1.5 to S $22.5 (about RMB 104). At the time of retail, the manual fee of 15- 100 is charged for each piece of gold ornaments according to different styles and techniques.
In the eyes of local people, Singapore's gold and jewelry market can meet the needs of consumers of different grades in a multi-ethnic society. Gold is very warm and symbolizes the sun and wealth, so it is very popular in Singapore. In terms of style, Chinese Singaporeans prefer simple, light and youthful gold ornaments. Indians, on the other hand, like gold ornaments with thin bandwidth and complicated design, and they buy them in sets. Especially when Indians get married, the value of men is often measured by the number of gold ornaments the woman marries. Therefore, the gold jewelry industry of Indian ethnic groups in Singapore is quite developed; Malays also like exaggerated gold ornaments. In terms of age, people under 35 prefer European and American gold ornaments, while those over 35 prefer traditional gold ornaments.
At present, due to the economic downturn in Singapore, the overall gold jewelry retail market business is relatively cold. First, there are many investment tools at present, and people have a variety of investment tools to choose from, such as stocks and bonds; Second, platinum and diamond jewelry are popular in the market at present, which makes gold "out of favor" among young consumers; Third, the value-preserving function of gold is not as great as it was twenty or thirty years ago. At present, people choose to buy gold ornaments, mainly for wearing and as decorations. However, the seasonal sales of gold ornaments such as Spring Festival, Eid al-Fitr, Harz Festival and Christmas in Singapore are very good, and consumers' demand for gold ornaments is still great. Therefore, with the sustained economic recovery, Singapore goldsmiths are still optimistic about their business prospects. People in the Singapore industry agree that gold jewelry has a certain popularity period, and gold is likely to become the focus of the trend again in a few years.
In addition, according to the statistics of Singapore World Gold Council, the import volume of gold bars in Singapore in the first quarter of this year was 22 123 kg. Among them, Australia is 99 18 kg, accounting for 45%; Papua New Guinea is 5,770 kilograms, accounting for 26%; Switzerland is 233 1kg, accounting for10%; Cambodia 2000 kg, accounting for 9%; Hong Kong is 16 16 kg, accounting for 7%; Our country is 0. In the first quarter of this year, Singapore imported104kg gold coins, mainly from Canada (82kg, accounting for 79%), Malaysia (19kg, accounting for 18%) and China (3kg, accounting for 3%).
Second, some inspirations for the development of gold jewelry industry in China
1. Learn from foreign gold market management experience and gradually realize the liberalization of gold trading in China. In China, gold has always been a special commodity controlled by the state. Since 2000, China has gradually opened its gold market, relaxed its monopoly on gold trading and gradually liberalized the gold market. Yin Chongming, president of the Singapore Diamond and Jewelry Association, believes that the gold and jewelry market in China is very large. Only when China's gold market is completely liberalized and there are sufficient raw materials to realize the free trade of gold can the export of gold to Southeast Asia be promoted on the premise of meeting domestic demand.
2. Improve the quality of gold jewelry, improve the technology and adapt to the international fashion trend. Singaporeans think that China's gold jewelry is not as rich as Singapore's. On the other hand, from the perspective of Singapore's gold jewelry market, people in Singapore and even Southeast Asia prefer 22K gold jewelry, which is soft to wear and easy to damage, while China's gold jewelry is still dominated by 24k. Nowadays, people wear gold ornaments, pay attention to details and handwork, emphasize modernity, and like to wear jewelry more freely and easily.
3. Absorb the advantages of platinum and diamond jewelry, and strive for more consumers. Singaporeans believe that consumers' interest in platinum, diamond and jewelry will indirectly benefit goldsmiths, because it will strengthen ordinary people's appreciation of high-end jewelry. With the improvement of age and status, people will turn to buy more valuable gold ornaments. Although the sales of diamond jewelry in Singapore have recovered faster than that of gold jewelry, the total sales of gold are still two or three times more than that of diamonds.
Economic development and social stability provide favorable conditions for the development of gold and jewelry industry. The gold market is greatly influenced by social security. When the social situation is unstable or inflation occurs, the value-preserving function of gold jewelry is strengthened; When the society is stable, its ornamental value increases, but its value-preserving function decreases relatively. Singaporeans believe that Singapore's social security is stable, which can guarantee the consumption of gold ornaments to a certain extent, and people can buy gold ornaments with confidence and peace of mind.
China's stable political situation, continuous improvement of people's living standards and increasing foreign exchanges objectively provide good external conditions for China to accelerate the development of gold jewelry industry. It is suggested that related industries can seize this great opportunity, seek innovation and change, and at the same time, focus on overseas markets, including Southeast Asia, to promote China's gold jewelry to the world.