A new report from the World Gold Council shows that gold demand increased sharply in the first three months of the year, coinciding with a rise in its price.
Demand for gold surged by 74% in the first three months of 2026, reaching a total value of $193 billion.
Demand for physical gold – bars and coins – jumped 42% to 474 tons, making it the second-highest quarterly increase ever recorded. Central banks also increased their gold buying, acquiring 244 tons in the first quarter. Gold used in technology saw a slight increase of 1% to 82 tons. Overall, more gold was purchased as an investment than for making jewelry.
The World Gold Council believes the factors that have recently driven up gold prices – particularly global political instability – are likely to persist and could even become more pronounced throughout the year.
According to the World Gold Council, both individuals and institutions will keep driving the demand for gold.
Because of this, demand for gold ETFs and OTC trading might increase, but likely not as much as it did in 2025. Instead, we expect to see more people buying physical gold – bars and coins – in 2026. High prices, limited investment options in certain areas, worries about inflation, and general economic uncertainty are all likely to keep attracting both those looking to save and those speculating on future price increases.
Central banks are predicted to continue buying gold at roughly the same rate as expected for 2025. Despite price fluctuations and ongoing global economic uncertainties, demand remains strong and could even increase. However, it’s possible that countries may release some of their gold reserves if there are further disruptions to supply.
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2026-05-08 10:22