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

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.