N e w s

According to the Russia's Assay office, Russia's jewellery production may well increase up to 30% in 2001. Last year jewellery industry consumed 24.6 tons of gold and 35.4 tons of silver, compare to the last 9 months when 23 tons of gold and 30,5 tons of silver were used.

It is interesting to note that the level of consumption for platinum and palladium by jewellery industry in Russia has increased as well, compare to 1997 when Russian jewellers only used somewhat 6 kilograms of platinum, and over 100 kilograms last year alone. It is obvious that the increase in precious metals consumpition levels in Russia is due to the increased domestic interests to jewellery.