The Bank of Tanzania reported that its total precious metal reserves grew by 3.6 percent in September, according to Daily News. The central bank’s financial statements indicate that these assets rose to 10.60 trillion shillings from 10.24 trillion shillings in August, an increase of roughly 365.3 billion shillings. This expansion was driven by a rise in monetary gold to 3.43 trillion shillings and a gain in bullion to 7.17 trillion shillings. AllAfrica also reported these figures, noting that the data highlights the significant share that precious metals now represent within the institution's asset structure.
Despite the growth in gold reserves, the Bank of Tanzania’s total assets fell by 0.7 percent to 34.72 trillion shillings in September, down from 34.96 trillion shillings in August. Daily News noted that this overall decrease occurred even as foreign currency marketable securities climbed to 7.61 trillion shillings. Other asset categories saw sharper reductions, with miscellaneous assets dropping to 862 billion shillings and loans and receivables falling to 975.5 billion shillings. The report suggests that these contrasting movements require a review of the entire balance sheet to fully understand the institution's financial standing.
On the liabilities side, total obligations edged up to 31.22 trillion shillings from 31.15 trillion shillings. Currency in circulation climbed to 10.73 trillion shillings, while funds deposited by banks and nonbank financial institutions fell to 6.40 trillion shillings. The Bank’s total equity dropped to 3.49 trillion shillings, largely due to a reduction in reserves to 3.39 trillion shillings. According to the financial statements, the Bank’s authorised and paid-up capital stayed at 100 billion shillings.
The monthly data does not definitively establish whether the increase in gold holdings stemmed from new purchases, valuation adjustments, or other transactions. Daily News observed that tracking these variations offers a clearer view of the central bank’s asset mix. However, additional details would be required to identify the specific drivers behind the monthly fluctuations in the Bank of Tanzania's financial position.