Gold imports into China have soared this year, turning the country, already the largest bullion miner, into a major overseas buyer for the first time in recent memory.

　　中国今年黄金进口量激增，使这个全球最大的黄金开采国近年来首次成为一大海外买家。

　　The surge, which comes as Chinese investors look for insurance against rising inflation and currency appreciation, puts China on track to overtake India as the world’s largest consumer of gold and a powerful force in global prices.

　　黄金进口激增之际，中国投资者正针对通胀抬头和汇率升值而寻求“投保”，这使中国有望超越印度，成为全球最大的黄金消费国，以及影响金价的一股强大力量。

　　The size of the imports – more than 209 tonnes of gold during the first 10 months of the year, a five-fold increase from an estimate of 45 tonnes last year – was revealed on Thursday. In the past, China has kept the number secret.

　　中国黄金进口的规模是在周四公布的，数据显示，中国在今年前10个月进口逾209吨黄金，是去年估计为45吨的进口量的五倍。以往中国的黄金进口数据是保密的。

　　“Investment is really driving demand for gold,” said Cai Minggang, at the Beijing Precious Metals Exchange. “People don’t have any better investment options. Look at the stock market, or the property market – you could make huge losses there.”

　　“真正推动黄金需求的是投资，”北京贵金属交易所(Beijing Precious Metals Exchange)的蔡明刚（音）表示。“人们没有更好的投资选择。看看股市或楼市，你在那里可能遭受严重亏损。”

　　Beijing has encouraged retail consumption, with an announcement in August of measures to promote and regulate the local market, including expanding the banks allowed to import bullion.

　　北京方面鼓励零售消费，8月份曾宣布出台相关措施，以促进和规范当地市场，包括允许更多银行进口黄金。

　　Shen Xiangrong, chairman of the Shanghai Gold Exchange, who disclosed the import numbers, said uncertainties about the Chinese and global economies, and inflationary expectations, had “made gold, as a hedging tool, very popular”.

　　透露上述黄金进口数据的上海黄金交易所(Shanghai Gold Exchange)理事长沈祥荣表示，围绕中国乃至全球经济的不确定性，加上通胀预期，使作为对冲工具的黄金深受欢迎。

　　The rise in Chinese demand could further inflate gold prices. Bullion hit a nominal all-time high of $1,424.10 a troy ounce last month. But adjusted for inflation, prices are far from the 1980 peak of $2,300.

　　中国需求的上升可能进一步推高金价。上个月，金价创下每金衡盎司1424.10美元的名义历史高点。但经通胀因素调整后，金价仍远低于1980年达到的每盎司2300美元的峰值。

　　“The trend is undeniable – gold demand in China is rising rapidly,” said Walter de Wet, of Standard Bank in London.

　　“这一趋势是不容否认的——中国的黄金需求正在快速上升，”标准银行(Standard Bank)驻伦敦的魏文德(Walter de Wet)表示。

　　China surpassed South Africa three years ago as the world’s largest producer.

　　中国三年前超越南非，成为全球最大黄金生产国。

　　The market upswing has prompted an increase in gold scams in Hong Kong, according to industry executives. The counterfeits have shocked the Chinese territory’s gold community not because of the amounts involved – between 200 and 2,000 ounces – but because of their sophistication.

　　与此同时，据业内高管介绍，市场涨势已引发香港的黄金骗局增加。假黄金震动了香港黄金界，原因不在于数量（200至2000盎司），而在于其技术含量。

　　In one case, executives discovered a coating advertised as pure gold that masked a complex alloy, which included rare metals such as osmium, iridium, ruthenium and rhodium.

　　在一个案例中，业内高管发现一种号称纯金的涂层其实是一种复杂的合金，含有锇、铱、钌、铑等稀有金属。