Türkiye’s central bank achieves record high reserves of $182.95 billion as gold reserves surge to $96.25 billion

The Central Bank of Türkiye reached a major milestone with its total reserves hitting a record high of $182.95 billion. This marks the highest level ever recorded for the country’s official reserves, illustrating the bank’s successful accumulation of assets in a challenging global economic environment. This surge was driven by notable increases in both foreign currency and gold reserves, reflecting strategic asset management by the central bank to strengthen Türkiye’s external financial position.

According to the Central Bank’s official figures, foreign currency reserves climbed by $1.6 billion during the week, reaching $86.70 billion. This increase in foreign currency holdings evidences the bank’s ongoing efforts to bolster liquidity in convertible currencies, which can support interventions in the foreign exchange market and enhance macroeconomic stability. The rise in foreign currency reserves aligns with the Central Bank’s broader policy objectives to stabilize the lira and maintain investor confidence amid geopolitical uncertainties and fluctuating global market conditions.

Managing balance of payments challenges

Simultaneously, the Central Bank’s gold reserves exhibited even more substantial growth, increasing by $2.4 billion to a total of $96.25 billion. Gold holdings have been a critical component of Türkiye’s reserve management strategy, serving as a hedge against currency volatility and inflation risks. Over 2025, the trend of accumulating gold has been pronounced, with the bank steadily enhancing its gold stockpile in response to global economic pressures and to diversify its reserve portfolio effectively.

This combination of rising foreign currency and gold reserves marks a significant 2.3 percent increase, or roughly $4.1 billion, from the previous week’s total reserves of approximately $178.85 billion. The Central Bank’s reserve levels are pivotal indicators not only of Türkiye’s external economic strength but also of its ability to manage balance of payments challenges and maintain confidence among international investors and rating agencies.

Additional components of the reserves include the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reserve position and special drawing rights, which saw a minor decline of 0.4 percent to $7.7 billion. These reserves, though smaller in proportion, still constitute an important part of the Central Bank’s overall liquidity framework, supporting the country’s access to IMF credit facilities if necessary.

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Positive signal for economic resilience

Financial analysts and economists view this record high as a positive signal, reflecting the Central Bank’s proactive stance in reinforcing national economic resilience. The reserve buildup has been partly driven by strategic transactions, including foreign exchange purchases and gold acquisitions, to cushion the economy against external shocks. Over recent months, the Turkish lira faced pressure due to political developments and market volatility, prompting the Central Bank to intervene by bolstering its assets.

Market insiders have noted that the Central Bank sold nearly $10 billion in foreign currencies across two weeks earlier in September to curb market downturns, followed by a resumption of reserve accumulation signaled by last week’s surge. This dynamic management underscores the Central Bank’s commitment to balancing market stabilization with sustainable reserve growth.

The latest figures have been corroborated by multiple reliable financial sources, including the Bank’s own weekly report hosted on its official data portal and economic analyst publications. These sources confirm consistent increases in both gold and foreign currency reserves—key drivers of the overall reserve record. For instance, the Central Bank’s weekly international reserves report dated September 26 details the exact composition and weekly changes in reserve components.

Sharp rise in gold reserves

Türkiye’s gold reserves alone have risen sharply over 2025—from approximately $68 billion at the beginning of the year to over $96 billion by late September. This focused gold accumulation reflects global central banks’ renewed interest in gold as a secure reserve asset in a period marked by global economic uncertainty and inflation concerns. The country’s foreign exchange reserves remained robust too, despite occasional currency interventions aimed at stabilizing the Turkish lira.

This historic increase positions Türkiye strongly amid the global economic landscape of 2025, with its enhanced reserve buffer providing greater flexibility for monetary policy and external balance maintenance. It also responds to investor concerns, underpinning the nation’s creditworthiness and financial stability at a time when regional and global economic uncertainties persist.

The Central Bank of Türkiye’s sustained effort to expand its reserves, through disciplined monetary policies and strategic asset diversification, signals a fortified economic outlook. The reserve build-up strategy reassures markets and reflects Türkiye’s adapting economic policies to external challenges, including geopolitical tension and global inflationary pressures.