Central Banks Continue Buying Gold, Led by Uzbekistan and Poland

According to the World Gold Council, central banks added a net 22 tonnes of gold to their reserves in June, with Uzbekistan breaking a four-month selling streak by purchasing 9 tonnes. In Q2, global central bank gold buying totaled 166 tonnes, with Poland leading the way by adding 19 tonnes.

However, Q2 purchases were down 33% from Q1 levels, reflecting a slight cooling of demand as gold prices have surged nearly 30% this year. Still, ING analysts expect continued buying ahead, driven by geopolitical uncertainty and the desire to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.