For over two thousand years, China practiced what came to be known as the “tributary system,” reflecting the view that it alone was the center of the civilized world. All who wished to do business with the Chinese were considered tributary states. Rulers and travelers from other lands had to follow certain procedures, including gift giving, in order to associate or do business with them.

When Japan ignored this policy, it brought about two invasion attempts by the Mongols under Kublai Khan.

Now, that line of thinking has morphed into something quite interesting, which may one of these days come to be known as “The Great Gold and Silver Migration,” the transfer of massive amounts of true wealth – precious metals – from West to East.

Streams of Gold Flowing East, Emptying Western Vaults

In nature, a tributary is a smaller stream flowing into and feeding a larger stream or river. Around the globe, several “tributary trends” are coming together in order to feed the Chinese (and Indian) precious metals’ demand river, with major supply-side implications in the near to intermediate future.

The Chinese gold accumulation “river” has feeder supply streams from a variety of sources swelling its in-country gold tonnage. Quite a bit is imported legally through Hong Kong. Until this year, this statistical source was a reasonably accurate representation of publicly-accounted for gold coming into China.

However, Beijing and Shanghai are now ports of entry for a considerable volume of bullion, so annual import totals have become much more difficult to quantify.

For 2013, several sources have estimated total Chinese gold imports at 2,000 to 2,200 tons. If this was indeed the case, then it would be the equivalent of over 80% of global gold production for the year!

In an official Chinese Press Release about the China Gold Yearbook 2014, the Chinese Gold Congress (CGC) in Beijing stated that gold demand in 2013 was 2,199 tonnes, and 2014’s numbers continue apace.