Global Central Bank Gold Buying Cooled, with Net Purchases of 19 mt in February Below the Annual Average

World Gold Council data showed that from 2022 to 2024, global central banks bought more than 1,000 mt of gold annually on average, about twice the average of the previous decade. Even in 2025, when gold prices repeatedly hit record highs, global central bank gold purchases still reached 863 mt, accounting for 17.3% of global gold demand that year.

However, some central banks recently reduced their holdings, and the gold-buying pattern weakened at the margin. The World Gold Council’s monthly report released on April 2 showed that central banks worldwide made net purchases of 19 mt of gold in February, below the 2025 monthly average of 26 mt, but rebounding from net purchases of 5 mt in