France completes repatriation of gold reserves from the US, gains over €13 billion
The French central bank has finished repatriating its gold reserves previously stored in New York by selling 129 tonnes of bullion there and acquiring new gold in France. The process took place from July 2025 to January 2026, after which the gold was relocated to Paris. Due to high gold prices, the central bank recorded a one-time profit of nearly €13 billion (around $15.1 billion).
Following the freezing of Russia’s central bank reserves in 2022, the repatriation of gold became a prominent topic among central banks and governments. Countries like India and Serbia have already begun returning gold bullion, while Germany, Italy, Poland, and Romania have also called for gold repatriation.
The French central bank undertook this operation to safeguard its reserves and capitalise on the rising global gold prices, positively affecting its financial position.
Founded in the 19th century, the Bank of France is responsible for managing the country's monetary policy, including supervising official reserves such as gold and foreign currencies.
This move may signal a broader trend in Europe as nations seek to strengthen financial sovereignty and secure their assets amid geopolitical instability.
It is expected that other central banks will intensify efforts to repatriate gold to their jurisdictions, increasing transparency and influence in global gold markets.
