Central banks added a net 19 metric tons of gold to reserves in February, according to the World Gold Council, showing that official sector demand remained firm even after a slower start to the year. The February total marked a rebound from January’s net 5 tons, although it stayed below the 2025 monthly average of 26 tons.

The data also showed that China extended its gold buying streak, adding to a broader trend of reserve diversification among central banks. Poland led all buyers in February, while several other countries reported smaller additions. At the same time, Turkey and Russia were the biggest reported sellers for the month.

Gold has remained a key reserve asset for many central banks even as prices stayed elevated. Recent buying patterns suggest that some institutions still want larger bullion holdings, while others may be adjusting purchases more carefully because of higher market prices.

Poland Leads February Gold Buying

Poland was the largest buyer in February, adding 20 tons, according to the World Gold Council. That made it the main driver of the month’s overall increase. Uzbekistan followed with 8 tons, while the Czech Republic and Malaysia each added 2 tons. China and Cambodia each reported purchases of 1 ton.

Central bank net purchases and sales, tonnes. Source: World Gold Council

On the selling side, Turkey reduced reserves by 8 tons and Russia cut holdings by 6 tons. Even so, total net buying stayed positive for the month, which showed that official demand for gold did not disappear after January’s slowdown.

The February divs also pointed to a mixed pattern across countries. Some central banks continued to build reserves steadily, while others chose to trim holdings. Still, the broader trend remained intact, with central banks staying net buyers overall.

China Extends Gold Reserve Growth

China’s central bank extended its latest gold buying streak to 16 straight months in February. Reuters reported in early February that the People’s Bank of China had already reached 15 consecutive months of purchases in January. Then, official February data showed holdings rose again to 74.22 million fine troy ounces.

That steady accumulation matters because China has remained one of the most closely watched official buyers in the global gold market. The World Gold Council listed China among February’s buyers, while broader reserve data continued to show gold taking a larger role in national reserve strategies.

The latest report suggests central banks are still using gold as a strategic reserve asset despite high prices and uneven monthly activity. February’s rebound did not match last year’s average pace. However, it showed that demand from official institutions, including China, remained in place.