Bullion coin sales charts updated for the Perth Mint and the US Mint for January

As we usually do, the bullion sales charts have been updated to cover the first month of 2017. We’ve done the United States and Perth Mints but the figures for the Royal Canadian Mint are sadly still lagging far behind. The RCM publishes a quarterly report only and we’ve still yet to see Q3 (July-Sept) of 2016, although we understand that it’s due towards the end of this month. Until then the RCM figures remain seven months behind the other two.

PERTH MINT

At just over 72k ounces, Perth Mint gold sales are the highest for a January, certainly over the five years our charts track with a number more than January 2015 and 2016 combined. The trend is also healthly, getting numbers back up to pre-2015 levels and setting the fourth highest monthly sales figure since Jan 2013. In a linear sense, gold has done well since it jumped last September.

Silver paints a good picture if not quite as relatively impressive. Numbers have tripled from the poor December 2016 figures to over 1.2m ounces. Historically it’s the second highest start to the year, just behind last year that was boosted by the launch of the Kangaroo bullion coin. Despite the lack of a similar big launch this year, numbers have surged.

US MINT

Because of rationing, US Mint December numbers are usually not indicative of either market trends or actual demand, so a huge surge in January is actually quite normal. The 117,500 ounces is slightly below January 2016, but much better than the two previous years. Where it goes from here will be interesting. Every year sees a February flop, but the last quarter of 2016 saw some great gold sales at the US Mint and we’re curious to see if that momentum is maintained or if the Trump administration puts the brakes on it (doubtful).

Silver has the same December problem as gold, but sales in January were relatively low, although at over 5m ounces nobody is going hungry. January is often the best month of the year but market turmoil and general confidence have been affected by the recent election so no bets from us in what direction sales will go.