The Central Bank of Russia sold 700,000 ounces of gold in 2026

2026-04-23

As data published on Monday showed, since the beginning of this year, the Central Bank of Russia has sold 700 thousand troy ounces of gold.
As of early April, Russia's gold reserves amounted to 74.1 million troy ounces, while at the beginning of the year this figure was 74.8 million ounces.
The central bank valued its gold holdings at $334 billion, down from last month ($384 billion) but above the January 1 level ($325 billion). Purchases of gold by central banks around the world were one of the key factors responsible for last year’s price rally for this precious metal.
The Russian Central Bank began selling gold on the market in November 2025 as part of operations conducted on behalf of the fiscal reserve, the National Welfare Fund. Then the regulator explained that it needed to diversify its reserves, since rising prices led to an increase in the share of gold in their structure.
The bank also noted that it took advantage of increased liquidity in the domestic market.

Gold sales by the Russian central bank stand in stark contrast to ongoing purchases this year by the central banks of China and Brazil.

Due to Western sanctions, the Central Bank is no longer able to buy and sell dollars or euros. Gold and the Chinese yuan became its most liquid assets.

Last month, gold posted its sharpest monthly decline since October 2008; The reason for this was fears about inflation, as well as expectations of higher interest rates amid the consequences of the war in Iran.

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