# Central Banks Plan Record Gold Purchases, Survey Finds

**Published:** 2026-06-17T11:45:25.659Z  
**Topic:** Gold  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/a688e760-0d81-4a76-bbd1-7432821892e4

A record 45% of central banks plan to buy gold in the next year as confidence in the dollar wanes, a World Gold Council survey shows.

A record 45% of central banks plan to increase their gold holdings over the next 12 months, signaling a sustained strategic shift toward the metal as the primary reserve asset over US government bonds [1, 2]. This buying intent, the highest level recorded in the World Gold Council’s annual survey, reflects a growing consensus among reserve managers that gold will comprise a larger share of global reserves in the face of geopolitical and economic uncertainty [1, 2].

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Banks planning to buy gold (next 12 months) | 45% (record high) |
| Expecting global holdings to increase | 89% |
| Expecting lower dollar share (5 years) | 74% |
| Avg. annual accumulation (last 4 years) | 1,000 tonnes |

## Strategic diversification drives demand
The survey of 76 central banks indicates that 89% of reserve managers expect global gold holdings to rise in the coming year, while 83% anticipate gold will account for a higher share of total reserves within five years, up from 76% in the previous year [1, 2]. This outlook follows a period of accelerated accumulation, where central banks added an average of 1,000 tonnes of gold annually over the past four years, compared to a 500-tonne average in the prior decade [2].

The motivation for this shift is rooted in risk management. A record 90% of respondents cited gold’s performance during crises as a primary driver, while 84% viewed it as a long-term store of value and 82% sought portfolio diversification [1]. Notably, 85% of emerging market and developing economy respondents emphasized gold’s role as a hedge against geopolitical risk, while the proportion citing "historical legacy" as a reason to hold gold dropped to 46% from 62% in the prior year [1].

## Storage logistics shift
As central banks accumulate bullion, they are altering where they store it. The survey found that 9% of respondents increased domestic storage in the past 12 months, up from 5% the year before, while 10% diversified their overseas storage locations, up from 2% [1, 2]. This trend is set to continue, with 7% planning to increase domestic storage and 9% planning to diversify overseas locations in the coming year [1]. The Bank of England remains the most popular vaulting location at 57%, followed by domestic storage at 49% [1].

## What to watch
*   **Actual net purchase volumes** over the next 12 months to verify if the record buying intent translates into physical tonnage.
*   **Storage allocation trends** to see if the move toward domestic vaulting accelerates amid geopolitical tensions.
*   **US dollar reserve levels** to monitor if the anticipated 74% decline in the dollar's share over five years materializes.

The findings suggest gold is transitioning from a passive legacy asset to an active strategic allocation, as central banks prepare for a financial landscape defined by fragmentation and uncertainty [1, 2].

## Sources
1. Jewelbuzz — [WGC Central Banks Gold Reserves Survey: Central Banks Set To Step Up Gold Buying Over The Next Year - JewelBuzz Magazine](https://jewelbuzz.in/wgc-central-banks-gold-reserves-survey-central-banks-set-to-step-up-gold-buying-over-the-next-year/)
2. Retailjewellerindia — [Central banks set to step up gold buying over the next year, finds World Gold Council survey - The Retail Jeweller India](https://retailjewellerindia.com/central-banks-set-to-step-up-gold-buying-over-the-next-year-finds-world-gold-council-survey/)
3. Gulfnews — [Central banks see gold taking a larger share of reserves over the next five years](https://gulfnews.com/business/banking/central-banks-line-up-more-gold-buying-with-dollar-confidence-under-pressure-1.500575884)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Central Banks Plan Record Gold Purchases, Survey Finds", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/a688e760-0d81-4a76-bbd1-7432821892e4