Inflows reached US$21 billion in the first quarter.
Demand in China – the top bullion producer and consumer – has been one of the key drivers of gold’s ascent.
Central banks have been net buyers of gold for the past 15 years, but the speed of their purchases doubled in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As the US and its allies froze Russian central bank funds held in their countries, it underscored how foreign currency assets are vulnerable to sanctions.
In 2024, central banks bought more than 1,000 tonnes of bullion for the third year in a row, according to the World Gold Council, and they hold around a fifth of all the gold that has ever been mined.
Source: Bloomberg
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