China world's No. 3 gold consumer, producer

China is now the world's third-largest gold consumer, after the United States and India. The country also overtook Australia as the world's third-largest gold producer last year, producing 247 metric tons, an 8% year-on-year increase, according to the Gold Survey 2007 published by Gold Fields Mineral Services (GFMS). The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) projects the country's total gold production for the period from 2006 and 2010 at 1,300 metric tons, state media reported.