Central banks raise Q3 gold buying 42% to 321 tonnes

Central banks bought an estimated 321 tonnes of gold in the third quarter of 2026, a 42% increase from the previous quarter, according to the World Gold Council. The council’s estimate brought purchases in the first nine months of the year to 675 tonnes, 6% above the same period in 2025. The quarterly total was higher than recent typical buying levels. The council said stronger-than-expected purchases in the second and third quarters led it to expect full-year central-bank buying to equal or exceed 2025 levels. That is a forecast, rather than a final tally for 2026. Officially reported net purchases accounted for 120 tonnes of the third-quarter estimate. The council estimated that activity not reflected in official statistics made up about 63% of the total, potentially because of reporting delays or nondisclosure. It said delayed disclosures could prompt revisions, and that published country-level figures do not identify the buyers behind the estimated unreported activity. Among purchases captured in reported country data, China led with 63 tonnes, followed by Poland with 40 tonnes. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan each added 14 tonnes, the council said. Poland’s purchases slowed...