Forget everything you thought you knew about gold trends this year. China just flipped the script.

According to the World Gold Council, Chinese gold ETFs pulled in a jaw-dropping 29.1 metric tons of gold in just the first 11 days of April.

That’s more than the entire first quarter combined. And here’s the kicker: Chinese gold inflows are now outpacing U.S.-listed gold ETFs.

It’s Simple, Investors are Scared

Tariff tensions, currency volatility, and general economic anxiety have Chinese investors running straight into gold, the time-tested safe haven.

While the U.S. was the big gold story in Q1, April is looking very different. China is now leading the global gold rush, and it’s happening at breakneck speed.

Why? Because Trump’s latest tariff tirade is pushing the yuan lower. It just hit a low that has not been seen since 2007. That kind of uncertainty? It’s like pouring rocket fuel into gold demand.

Gold Prices Just Hit a Record

And it’s no coincidence

Gold just touched a record high of $3,245.42 per ounce. That’s a 22% gain this year alone. Investors aren’t just hedging, they’re fleeing to safety.

And with Chinese premiums on gold jumping to 1% over the London benchmark, some traders are now charging $54 per ounce just to get their hands on the stuff.

Global bullion banks are rushing to meet demand, moving significant amounts of gold into China.

One trader even called last week’s import activity “unusually active.” That’s industry speak for “something big is brewing.”

This Should Be a Wake-Up Call

If you’re an investor watching this from the sidelines, this should be a wake-up call.

The East is shifting gold momentum fast, and that could mean even tighter supply, higher premiums, and a very different gold landscape going into Q2.

Are you positioned for what’s coming?