The spokesman from the China Gold Association said on August 24 that from January to June of this year, the product output of gold in China reached 129 tons; and the general output value of gold companies reached 60.1779 billion RMB, which is 88.90% higher than the same period last year.

    Some international institutes predict China would become the number 1 gold-producing country, succeeding South Africa. Several gold mines would be in production in the second half of the year and the predicted output of gold would increase. South Africa's gold output has been slipping since 2002, and it was only 275 tons in 2007. Meanwhile, China's gold output reached 270.491 tons that year.