In June, China purchased more than 40 tonnes of gold through the London over-the-counter (OTC) market, marking its second-largest monthly purchase since the beginning of 2025.
This was 167% higher than the official figures published by the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), which reported gold purchases of 15 tonnes in June.
It is also estimated that China purchased an additional approximately 48 tonnes of gold through the OTC market in May, 380% more than the central bank’s officially reported purchase of 10 tonnes.
Meanwhile, in July, the PBoC officially increased its gold reserves by 20 tonnes, representing its largest monthly purchase since October 2023.
Since the beginning of the year, China has officially increased its gold reserves by 60 tonnes, bringing its total holdings to a record 2,366 tonnes.
Thus, China purchased approximately 88 tonnes of gold through the OTC market in May and June alone—more than the amount officially reported for the entire year to date. This suggests that China is acquiring significantly more gold than is reflected in its official data.
