Central banks remain firm on gold accumulation in February, having bought a net 27t. This was a rebound from the lull we saw in January, and in line with the monthly average of 26t reported in 2025. Just two months into the year, central banks have bought 31t, a pace much slower than the same period last year (50t).
Gold rose in USD terms but fell when priced in RMB – due mainly to the strengthening currency. Wholesale gold demand stayed relatively resilient in February, the Chinese New Year month, compared to the similar period in 2025. Local gold ETFs saw further inflows and the PBoC announced gold purchases 16 months in a row.
Slow gold supply responses to the surging price raised concerns of its sustainability. And while “easy” gold mines might be depleted gradually, reserves should stay stable. And above-ground gold stocks should – though not all accessible – also help underpin total supply’s stability. Meanwhile, large gold mine discoveries should have limited short-term impact on the gold price. And coordinated production changes remain improbable.
After a strong year of buying, central banks started 2026 more cautiously: January net purchases came in at 5t, below the prior 12‑month average of 27t. Even so, with geopolitical tensions still elevated, the longer‑term appetite to add gold looks set to persist.
In this episode of Unearthed, hosts Joe Cavatoni and John Reade examine the shifting dynamics of China - the world’s most important gold market for more than a decade.
The local gold price kicked 2026 off with its strongest January on record. And while it pulled back sharply in late January and early February, gold bounced back since. In January, investment demand benefited from the powerful gold price rally – bullion sales at gold stores surged and Chinese gold ETFs’ holdings expanded sizably. Meanwhile, the PBoC keeps reporting gold purchases, further boosting retail investors’ interest. Gold jewellery demand also improved amid retailers’ pre-Chinese New Year holiday restocking.
Central banks bought 19t of gold in December 2025 via the IMF and other public data sources, bringing full year 2025 reported net purchases to 328t. This is lower than the 345t of net purchases recorded in 2024.
