BCE Gold Purchases From Small Miners Reach USD 573M Over 10 Years
The Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE) has purchased more than 9.8 tonnes of gold from artisanal and small-scale mining over the last 10 years.
Program Scale
The purchases total USD 573 million since the gold commercialization program began in 2016.
The program is designed to formalize gold produced by small Ecuadorian miners and add purchased gold to the country's international reserves.
Producers receive payment by bank transfer within a maximum of 48 hours, with values aligned to the international gold price.
Reserve Impact
By April 2026, Ecuador's international reserves reached USD 11.513 billion.
Gold monetary reserves accounted for USD 3.812 billion, or 33.11% of total international reserves.
In 2025, BCE gold purchases reached USD 73.3 million, equal to 8.44% of small-mining export value. That share was 4.90% in 2024.
What To Watch
Watch formalization uptake among small miners, gold's share of reserves, international price exposure, and whether BCE purchases continue rising relative to small-mining exports.
Source
Teleamazonas — “BCE compró USD 573 millones en oro a pequeños mineros en 10 años”
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