Uzbekistan becomes third-largest gold buyer among central banks in September 2026

Only Poland (25 tonnes) and China (23 tonnes) purchased more than Uzbekistan during the month. Among other net buyers, the WGC listed Kazakhstan (+5 tonnes), Jordan (+4), the Czech Republic (+2), and Bolivia (+1). The largest reduction in reserves in September was recorded by Russia, down by 6 tonnes.

In total, central banks increased their gold reserves by 61 tonnes in September, marking the highest single-month total since the beginning of 2026. From January to September, their net purchases amounted to 228 tonnes, which the organization estimates is 7% lower than during the same period a year earlier.

The September purchase followed one in August, when, according to the WGC, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan bought 8 tonnes. In July, by contrast, the country was among the largest sellers, trimming its reserves by 1 tonne. According to the report, Uzbekistan, along with Kazakhstan, the Czech Republic, Singapore, and Chile, has purchased more than 10 tonnes of gold since the start of the year.

The report specifies that the statistics only reflect changes in reserves publicly reported by countries, and the country-by-country breakdown includes changes of one tonne or more.