ANKARA: Turkey imported 2.26 tonnes of gold in January, a drop of more than 80 percent from 11.79 tonnes in December, according to data from the Borsa Istanbul.
Last month’s import figure was also down 60 percent from six tonnes in January last year.Silver imports last month more than trebled year-on-year to 32.522 tonnes from 9.301 tonnes but were down from imports of 35.45 tonnes in December.
At an average of 181 tonnes per year over the past 10 years, Turkey is the fourth-largest consumer of gold, accounting for around six percent of global consumer demand, according to the World Gold Council.
Still, total imports in 2014 sank to 130.9 tonnes, a drop of 57 percent from 2013′s total of 302.3 tonnes, after it was alleged that the country has been paying Iran in gold for gas and oil imports.
