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(Corrects paragraph 3 to show gold prices fell for first timein 13 years, not 12)
* ANZ, HSBC first foreign banks to receive import permits-sources
* Could improve supply, ease premiums
* Is part of move to open China gold markets
By A. Ananthalakshmi and Fayen Wong
SINGAPORE/SHANGHAI, Jan 15 (Reuters) - China has grantedlicences to import gold to two foreign banks for the first time,sources said, as moves to open the world's biggest physicalbullion market gather pace.
Allowing more banks to import gold could increase the supplyof the metal into the country, easing local prices that arehigher than in most Asian nations.
China's gold imports more than doubled last year to over1,000 tonnes - ousting India as the biggest buyer - as demandsoared to unprecedented levels due to the first drop ininternational prices in 13 years.
ANZ and HSBC were awarded import licenceslate last year, two sources with direct knowledge of the mattertold Reuters.
Other trading sources said China Everbright Bank has also received approval to join the nine local banks alreadyallowed to ship gold into China. Beijing strictly controls howmuch the banks import through a quota system.
ANZ and HSBC declined to comment. Everbright could notimmediately be reached for comment.
"China is actually increasing its transparency. I thinkthere will possibly be further access to other banks as well,"said Cameron Alexander, manager of Asian precious metals demandat metals consultancy GFMS, which is owned by Thomson Reuters.
China faced a supply crunch early in 2013 when a sharpplunge in gold prices released pent up demand that erodedinventories at banks and jewellery sellers.
Premiums in China tend to be higher as supply is tighterthan other parts of Asia due to the quota system and the limitednumber of import licences.
Premiums are currently about $15 an ounce over Londonprices, compared to less than $2 in Singapore and Hong Kong.They rose to a record high of $30 in April-May last year.
China imported 1,060 tonnes of gold from Hong Kong in thefirst 11 months of 2013. Beijing does not release gold tradedata, so numbers from Hong Kong - the main conduit for gold -provide the best estimate on imports.
But traders warned the award of the new licences did notnecessarily mean imports would jump sharply from 2013's recordvolumes, as the level of demand would be the main factor drivingshipments. But they added that the move indicated appetite forgold would likely be strong.
ANZ and HSBC were in 2011 also the first two foreign banksto get the green light to trade gold futures on the ShanghaiFutures Exchange.
ANZ is the only foreign bank on the list of 10 most-activemembers by volume on the Shanghai Gold Exchange, the physicaltrading platform in China.
STRING OF CHANGES
The granting of new licences is the latest in a string ofsteps by China to ease restrictions on bullion trading and boostmarket accessibility.
China approved its first gold-backed exchange-traded fundslast year and extended trading hours on the futures exchange.
The central bank issued a draft policy document in Septemberthat proposed letting more banks import and export gold.
The move also comes as the SGE plans to launch gold futuresin the city's pilot free trade zone this year that would be opento foreign investors.
"China will need to allow more foreign players into thephysical gold market if it's planning to have foreign investorsparticipate on its gold futures," said one of the sources.
"This is the first step that the regulators are taking toensure that its gold futures contract in the free-trade zone cantake off." (Editing by Joseph Radford)
