Breaking: China Buys Gold 18 Months Straight, Adds 8.1 Tonnes

GFN – BEIJING: China’s central bank increased its gold reserves for an eighteenth consecutive month in April, extending one of the longest sovereign accumulation streaks in recent years as Beijing continues to diversify reserve assets amid growing geopolitical and monetary uncertainty.

Data released Thursday by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) and corroborated by the People’s Bank of China showed official gold holdings rose to 74.64 million fine troy ounces at the end of April, up from 74.38 million ounces in March.

The increase of roughly 260,000 ounces marked China’s largest monthly gold purchase since late 2024, according to domestic market trackers.

“China added 260,000 ounces to its gold reserves last month.”

The reported value of China’s gold reserves climbed to approximately $344.17 billion at month-end, rebounding from March levels as bullion prices stabilized following recent volatility tied to Middle East tensions and shifting global rate expectations.

China resumed official gold purchases in November 2024 after a six-month pause and has since maintained a steady accumulation pace. Analysts increasingly view the strategy as part of a broader reserve diversification effort away from traditional dollar assets and toward politically neutral collateral.

“The PBOC has now purchased gold for 18 straight months.”

The latest data reinforces a wider global trend of central bank gold accumulation, particularly among emerging market economies seeking insulation from sanctions risk, currency volatility, and growing fragmentation in the international monetary system.