Global central banks net purchased 19 tons of gold in February, with Poland and China continuing to increase holdings

The World Gold Council released the February 2026 Central Bank Gold Buying Monthly Report on April 2, showing that central banks worldwide net bought 19 tons of gold in that month, rebounding from 5 tons in January but still below the 2025 monthly average of 26 tons. Poland was the main buyer, purchasing 20 tons, bringing its total gold reserves to 570 tons (31%), aiming to increase to 700 tons to rank among the top ten globally; China has been increasing holdings for 16 consecutive months, with a total purchase of 44 tons from November 2024 to February 2026. Czechia, Uzbekistan, and other countries also continued net buying, and African central banks showed a buying trend as well. Turkey reduced holdings by 8 tons in February, and Russia by 6 tons. In March, Turkey continued to significantly reduce holdings, mostly through gold-currency swap operations.