Many of the BRICS countries continue to improve their balance sheets, while switching trade agreements away from the dollar in favor of local currency transactions between nations.
In September 2023, more than 77 tons of gold was bought by various country’s central banks.
With September’s purchases, central banks added a net 337 tons of gold in Q3. It was the second-highest third-quarter total on record behind 2022.
China continued to be the biggest gold purchaser, adding another 26 tons of gold to its hoard in September. It was the 11th straight month of increasing Chinese gold reserves.
Since the beginning of the year, the People’s Bank of China has increased its reserves by at least 181 tons, and it has added 232 tons since it resumed official purchases in November 2022. As of the end of September, China officially held 2,192 tons of gold, making up 4% of its total reserves.
Poland was another big gold buyer in September, adding 19 tons to its reserves. The National Bank of Poland has bought 105 tons of gold this year, following a plan announced in 2021 to add 100 tons to its reserves.
Turkey added 8 tons of gold to its holdings in September and appears to be back on the path toward expanding its reserves.
Central banks, institutional investors, and individual investors all include gold in their holdings for several reasons, many of which are related to gold’s historical and intrinsic qualities as a store of value.
For Central Banks, gold is considered a counterbalance for the paper assets they hold, such as currency reserves and government bonds. It has a history of maintaining its value over the long term, unlike fiat currencies which are subject to inflation.
Gold is a widely accepted asset and can be sold in markets around the world, ensuring that investors can liquidate their holdings if needed.
Similar to central banks, individual investors can use gold to protect against the erosion of purchasing power that comes with inflation.
Gold bars are accessible to a wide range of investors, with various sizes available, from small gram sized bars to larger 1 oz gold bars.
