Swiss exports of gold to China fell in August from July's 5-1/2-year high, while shipments to Türkiye rose to their highest since June 2013, Swiss customs data showed on Tuesday.

Falling gold prices in recent months have seen metal flow from commercial vaults in the United States and Britain to countries in Asia, which have large consumer markets for gold and typically take advantage of low prices.

Switzerland is the world's biggest refining and transit hub for gold and its data offer insight into global market trends.

The customs figures also showed that Switzerland imported 5.7 tons of Russian gold worth around $320 million in August, the most since April 2020, but Swiss authorities said this metal, while Russian in origin, came from Britain.

Large Western banks and refiners stopped buying gold from Russia after the Kremlin attacked Ukraine in February and Switzerland banned imports of gold from Russia in August.

But hundreds of tons of gold mined in Russia still sit in vaults in London, Zurich and New York.

Barring July's bumper number, Switzerland's exports of gold to mainland China in August were the highest since January. Shipments to India were the highest since May.

Türkiye, which is enduring inflation and a weakening currency, began stepping up gold imports from Switzerland in May.

Gold is seen by many as a safe place to store assets during times of economic turbulence