Central Banks Buy 321 Tonnes Of Gold In Q3 2026; Purchases Rise 6% In First 9 Months

Gold consumption in technology increased 3 per cent during the quarter. (File Photo)

Central banks stepped up their gold acquisitions during the July-September quarter of 2026, purchasing 321 tonnes of the precious metal, according to the World Gold Council (WGC). The buying spree exceeded the levels typically seen in recent quarters and pushed cumulative central bank purchases in the first nine months of the year to 675 tonnes, marking a 6 per cent increase year-on-year.

The sustained appetite for gold among central banks comes against the backdrop of elevated prices, which have weighed on jewellery consumption and demand for physical investment products such as bars and coins across several markets.

The WGC noted, "Central bank buying jumped to 321t in Q3, eclipsing recent typical quarterly buying levels and lifting y-t-d demand to 675t (+6 per cent y/y)."

The latest figures suggest that official-sector demand continues to provide support to the gold market despite the impact of higher prices on other consumption categories. The council expects central bank purchases in 2026 to at least equal the levels recorded in 2025, following the stronger-than-anticipated activity in the September quarter.

Purchases by central banks during Q3 were considerably higher than the quarterly levels…

Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy