Reported global central bank gold reserves, via the IMF and publicly available sources, rose by a net 39t in December. Gross sales (2t) were again dwarfed by gross purchases (41t), highlighting the strength of buying.*
Central banks’ gold buying slowed in October but did nothing to alter the overall trend of robust buying that has captured the attention of gold investors. Reported global net purchases totalled 42 tonnes (t) during the month, 41% lower than September’s revised total of 72t, but still 23% above the January-September monthly average of 34t.
Central banks collectively increased their gold reserves in August for the third consecutive month. They reported adding 77t to global official reserves during the month, a 38% up-tick from July’s buying. Recent buying has reinforced our confidence that the long-term trend of healthy central bank demand remains in place.
Having reported a return to net buying in June, the latest data shows global central banks continued to add to their gold reserves in July. Central banks reported healthy net purchases of 55t during the month.
Reported net purchases from central banks totalled 55t, the first month of sizeable global net buying since February.
As in recent months, activity from the Central Bank of Türkiye (CBRT) was pivotal to the global total.
Despite June weakness, the LBMA Gold Price AM in USD and the Shanghai Gold Benchmark PM (SHAUPM) in RMB ended the first half of 2023 higher by 5% and 9% respectively – the depreciation of RMB against the dollar over the period contributed to the significant difference.
Central bank gold reserves declined by 71 tonnes in April, primarily due to Turkish selling. Despite this, we expect central banks to remain net buyers in 2023, supported by their overall positive sentiment towards gold reserves.
According to the IMF, reported global central bank gold reserves remained virtually unchanged in March. Available data shows purchases almost perfectly offset sales, resulting in a net increase of 0.2 tonnes.
Record central bank gold buying last year shone a spotlight on the past, present and future of gold as a reserve asset. There are compelling reasons to expect continued buying from this sector
Central bank gold demand in 2023 picked up from where it left off in 2022. In January, central banks collectively added a net 31t to global gold reserves (+16% m-o-m).
In December, central banks have reported adding a net 28t of gold to global reserves, down sharply (53%) from the previous month (60t).
When Dr Duvvuri Subbarao was Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s gold reserves increased by more than 50%. Now a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the NUS Business School in Singapore, Dr Subbarao explains why he believes gold has such a significant role to play among central banks, particularly those from emerging markets.
Over the past 18 months, central banks have had a voracious appetite for gold. Alongside the impressive AUM growth in gold-backed ETFs, this has been one of the most prominent stories in the gold market. As we noted in the most recent edition of Gold Demand Trends, in H1 2019 central bank demand hit the highest level since becoming net buyers in 2010.
Intro: Central banks bought more gold in 2018 than at any time since the early 1970s – and the trend has continued this year. Isabelle Strauss-Kahn, Member of the Advisory Board of the World Gold Council, former Director of Market Operations at the Banque de France and former Lead Financial Officer at the World Bank, explains why.
Our Central Banks and Public Policy team have just published the results of the 2019 Central Bank Gold Reserves Survey. The survey gives a fascinating insight into the minds of central bankers and is especially timely since central banks continue to post record-breaking levs of net gold purchases in recent quarters.
Gold: More on China's announcement that it bought #gold in April for the fifth successive month.
First, showing this data graphically. #Goldhub #blog https://t.co/ejBYDLFKn3
