The volume of gold sales in China in 2009 is estimated to be the same as that of last year, due to the global financial crisis, the Shanghai Daily reported, citing Albert Cheng, managing director of the World Gold Council Far East.

China, the world's largest gold producer and the world's second biggest gold consumer after India, is still a strong market, while the demand in markets such as the U.S. is waning, said Cheng.

Last year, purchases of gold jewelry, gold coins and gold bars in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong increased 18% year on year to 432.1 tons, according to council.

China's gold production in 2008 reached a record high of 282 tons, up 4.26% from a year earlier, according to an earlier statement by China Gold Association.