San Salvador El Salvador. SENSUNTEPEQUE, El Salvador — El Salvador has purchased gold for the first time in more than three decades, a move its central bank says will strengthen the country’s international reserves.
The Central Reserve Bank (BCR) announced Thursday it acquired 13,999 troy ounces of gold—valued at about $50 million—marking the first such purchase since 1990.
The acquisition raises the nation’s total holdings to 58,105 ounces, worth an estimated $207.4 million. Before the transaction, El Salvador held 44,106 ounces as part of its reserves.
The bank said the move enhances its position in global gold markets, where the metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset during economic volatility.
According to the BCR, gold makes up about 20% of reserves managed by central banks worldwide.
The bank added that the purchase was made possible by the “patrimonial strengthening” of recent years, which it said underscores the resilience of the Salvadoran financial system.
SEE ALSO: Remittances to El Salvador have Increased in 2025
Reinforcing international reserves is also part of the commitments El Salvador assumed under a $1.4 billion financing program with the International Monetary Fund.
Of that package, the BCR is set to receive $570 million—roughly 40%—to increase reserves.
International reserves include gold, bank deposits, loan guarantees, and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), assets that countries rely on to meet short-term liquidity needs.
These reserves serve as a cushion during financial stress, with international guidelines recommending they cover at least three months of imports.
Gold, often regarded as protection against inflation and currency devaluation, is a strategic component of this plan, the bank said, forming part of a broader effort to safeguard the country’s economy from structural shifts in global markets.
SEE ALSO: El Salvador’s Exports
