Brazil's central bank more than doubled its gold holdings in 2025, moving the precious metal to the position of the second-largest component of the country's foreign exchange reserves after the U.S. dollar, the bank said in its annual report released on Tuesday.
Gold's share of total reserves rose to 7.19% in 2025, up from 3.55% in 2024, marking the highest proportion recorded since the series began in 2016. Over the same period, the share of U.S. dollar assets declined to 72.00% from 78.45%, the lowest share on record.
The report noted that Brazil's move mirrored activity in other nations that continued substantial gold purchases despite higher prices. Countries named in the document included Finland, Turkey and China - all cited as continuing heavy buying of the metal last year. The report framed gold as a commonly used "flight-to-quality" asset during periods of market volatility.
Reserve management, the central bank said, became more diversified through the year, with larger allocations to gold. The report also observed that the price of gold displayed greater volatility in 2025.
"Over the course of 2025, there was a significant move in the short end of the U.S. sovereign yield curve - at maturities most relevant for international reserves - with declining yields. This generated mark-to-market gains in the interest component, boosting returns beyond carry," the report said.
On a balance-sheet level, the return on total reserves in Latin America's largest economy rose 9.18% in 2025, and the stock of reserves stood at $358.23 billion as of December 31. Policymakers attributed the improvement in returns principally to stronger investment performance, with interest income the primary driver and currency movements contributing to a lesser extent.
In addition to the yield moves, the report pointed to foreign exchange effects as a contributor to gains. "In foreign exchange terms, the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against other reserve currencies also contributed positively to overall returns," it stated.
The annual report presents these developments as part of an ongoing shift in how reserves are managed, with a clearer tilt toward diversification and a notable increase in exposure to gold during a year when several central banks maintained or expanded holdings of the metal.
Summary of developments:
- Gold allocation rose to 7.19% of reserves in 2025 from 3.55% in 2024.
- U.S. dollar share of reserves fell to 72.00% from 78.45%, the lowest on record.
- Total reserves were $358.23 billion as of December 31, with a return of 9.18% for the year.