Central banks are expected to increase gold purchases in 2026 as a hedge against
dedollarisation and geopolitical uncertainty, according to Shaokai Fan, global
head of world banks at the World Gold Council. Recent buyers include Guatemala,
Indonesia, and Malaysia, some for the first time in years. Gold prices have
fallen over $1,000 this month to around $4,340 per troy ounce. The WGC forecasts
central bank purchases may ease to 850 metric tons in 2026 from 863 tons in
2025, still above pre-2022 levels, accounting for 17% of total demand last year.
