Central banks bought 51 tonnes of gold in June, highest this year

The buying comes as gold prices have stayed elevated. Spot gold traded near $2,400 an ounce in early August, after touching a record above $2,450 in late 2025. Central-bank purchases have been a key support for prices, providing a floor even as investor flows into exchange-traded funds have been mixed.

The WGC's data captures reported purchases and excludes unreported buying by some central banks. China's central bank has been a consistent buyer for more than a year, adding to its reserves as part of a broader push to diversify away from the dollar. Poland has also built its gold holdings steadily, with the National Bank of Poland saying it aims to hold 20% of its reserves in gold.

The June data showed buying was concentrated among central banks in Asia and Eastern Europe. The sellers – Russia and Turkey – have both faced currency pressures that may have prompted them to use gold reserves for intervention, analysts said.

The WGC does not provide forward guidance on central-bank buying, the data indicates sustained accumulation by a broad group of central banks suggests demand remains structural rather than tactical.