Bucharest, 9.October, 2025 – RBJ – Gold rose 1.6% on Wednesday, reaching $4,047 per ounce according to the latest data, marking an appreciation of over 50% so far this year. The surge has been fueled by increased demand for safe-haven assets, large-scale gold purchases by central banks seeking to diversify reserves and reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar, as well as by investors who view gold as protection against uncertainty.
American billionaire Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates – the world’s largest hedge fund – stated in this context that gold is a safer alternative to the dollar, calling it “an excellent diversification tool” for investment portfolios.
“This is a historic moment,” said Claudiu Diaconu, CEO of Rafinor, the first modern gold refinery in Romania. “Demand is being driven not only by central banks and institutional investors, but also by strong physical purchases.”
The representative of the precious metals refinery emphasized that gold’s attractiveness is growing amid negative real interest rates: as the Fed eases monetary policy, real rates fall, and investors increasingly turn to assets that preserve value. At the same time, the weakness of the U.S. dollar stimulates global demand, since a weaker dollar makes gold more affordable for buyers outside the United States.
Institutional demand and central bank purchases continue to support the upward trend: UBS estimates that global gold demand could reach 4,850 tonnes in 2025, the highest level since 2011.
Gold prices have broken key thresholds during times of turmoil or uncertainty, with the upward trend driven by several macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. Its value surpassed $1,000 per ounce during the financial crisis, $2,000 per ounce during the Covid-19 pandemic, and crossed the $3,000 mark in March, just before President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs.
If yesterday the price of gold stood above $4,000 per ounce, analysts estimate it could reach $4,300 per ounce by the end of 2025, while projections for 2026 place gold at around $4,900 per ounce.
Gold Breaks Records. Rafinor positions Romania on the map of major refineries
If Romania has so far been just a spectator in the global gold phenomenon, today it has its own benchmark on this market — Rafinor. The country’s only modern precious metals refinery offers investors the opportunity to own locally produced gold, with lower costs and maximum security.
“The rise in gold prices is not just a market signal, but also an opportunity for Romania to evolve from observer to active participant in the international gold ecosystem. This precious metal represents emotion, safety, and tradition — but also a strategic asset that has proven its value over centuries. It’s a smart investment with deep roots in national history. Through Rafinor, Romania no longer looks at the global precious metals industry from the outside but takes an active role in it. It’s a form of economic responsibility — to buy locally, produce locally, ensure traceability, and offer investors a solid foundation for both protecting and growing their capital,” said Claudiu Diaconu, CEO of Rafinor.
Recent analyses indicate limited room for short-term declines in gold prices and significant growth potential, with a strong likelihood of reaching new all-time highs in the coming years.
The advantages of gold refined in Romania. Investor benefits
Rafinor revives the ancient tradition of precious metal processing in Romania while connecting the local market to international standards.
“Rafinor is not just an industrial project — it’s a strategic step that strengthens Romania’s role in the global precious metals market,” underlines the company’s CEO.
In this context, Rafinor is laying the foundation for a new era in Romania, which is no longer just an “import client” but a producer of refined gold that meets international standards.
Rafinor produces gold bars with 999.9% purity, available in various weights, and can meet national demand without logistical delays. The company, a leader in the precious metals processing sector, currently has a refining capacity of 6 tonnes of gold per year, with plans to increase production to 8 tonnes in 2026. Over a two-year horizon, Rafinor aims to reach a refining capacity of 15 tonnes per year.
Through locally produced gold, Romania regains its place on the world gold map. The benefit, however, is not merely one of image — it also brings multiple advantages to investors who choose this strategic asset. Gold refined locally to international standards offers investors:
>>> lower costs and shorter delivery times;
>>> full assurance regarding origin and purity;
>>> direct participation in a growing global trend;
>>> involvement in the circular economy of precious metals;
>>> support for a long-standing industrial tradition in Romania and the creation of new jobs.
xxx
Rafinor is Romania’s first modern gold refinery, with the goal of reviving the tradition of precious metal processing locally and connecting the Romanian market to international standards. As the leader of Romania’s precious metals industry, the company revitalizes a long-standing national activity while modernizing it with state-of-the-art refining technologies.
The only precious metals refinery in Romania, with a refining capacity exceeding two tons of gold per year, RAFINOR sells investment-grade gold bars, semi-finished gold bars, and industrial products for the jewelry, retail, medical, green energy, photovoltaic, automotive, technology, and other industries. These include 24-karat gold granules, as well as sheets, plates, and strips of gold.
In 2025, the company will also begin silver processing, mainly for industrial use. The leader of Romania’s precious metals industry aims, over the next three years, to exceed €100 million in annual turnover.
