The People’s Bank of China extended its gold purchases to a 15th consecutive month.

China’s central bank underscored the strength of official demand by extending its gold-buying streak to 15 months, following a sharp sell-off that interrupted gold’s record rally late last month.

Data released on Saturday showed that the People’s Bank of China increased its gold holdings by 40,000 troy ounces in the previous month. The central bank began its latest round of purchases in November 2024.

In January, waves of speculative interest pushed gold and silver prices to successive record highs, before a historic sell-off struck toward the end of the month.

Prices have since staged a partial recovery, though markets remain volatile as investors reassess their positions after the sharp decline.

According to the World Gold Council, global central bank purchases—one of the market’s key structural pillars—rose in the fourth quarter of 2025, lifting total annual buying to more than 860 tonnes. While this figure remains below the annual levels above 1,000 tonnes seen over the past three years, the World Gold Council expects demand to stay elevated and further reinforce gold’s role in official reserves.