Kathmandu, June 12 -- Nepal's gold jewellery consumption dropped only three percent in 2024, despite record-breaking price hikes, according to a recent report.

This modest decline has raised concerns that the demand is being propped up by an unofficial flow of the precious metal from India.

The Gold Focus 2025 report, published last Thursday by the London-based consultancy Metals Focus, forecasts a sharper eight percent drop in jewellery consumption in 2025, largely due to soaring prices.

The report noted that jewellery demand in Nepal fell just three percent even as the global average gold price surged 23 percent.

"The demand was supported by consumers' continued confidence in gold and also by discounted availability in the market, t...