The closely watched final number had not previously been reported but Chairman Maximo Pacheco said earlier this week that 2024 output was “slightly higher” than the 1.325 million tons produced in 2023.
Source – Reuters
Gold price have risen from Wednesday’s record close, propelled by fears that Trump’s tariffs will continue to hammer stocks and expectations that central banks will continue to hoard the precious metal. Gold futures for April delivery settled Wednesday at $3,139.90 a troy ounce, the latest notch in their 19% climb this year.
Source – The Wall Street Journal
The decision follows a settlement with the Malian Government over its 2023 mining code, which has reduced the risk of disruption.
B2Gold CEO Clive Johnson said: “From a B2Gold perspective, we have seen a reduction in risk since the signing of our settlement agreement.”
“We have expatriate employees that move in and out of the country regularly, including some of the mine management, so there is no reason to think that any detention would ever be contemplated as it relates to B2Gold,” Johnson added.
Source – Global Data / Reuters reported
South Africa’s rand strengthened on Monday, as gold hit a fresh high and optimism grew over the prospect of an agreement between the two biggest government partners on the budget.
At 0728 GMT, the rand traded at 18.2375 against the dollar, about 1.1% stronger than its previous close.
Gold prices touched an all-time high on Monday as investors stressing over a global trade war and economic slowdown from the world’s biggest economy turned towards the safe-haven asset. South Africa is a major producer of the precious metal.
Source – Reuters
In India, domestic prices hit an all-time high of 80,034 ($927.69) rupees per 10 grams on Friday, tracking the international spot gold prices and hovering near a record high of $2,790.15 hit on Oct. 31.
“Retail demand was negligible this week due to the price rise. Most jewellery stores were witnessing thin footfall,” a Chennai-based bullion dealer said.
Chinese gold prices are higher again and close to historical highs, which has sucked out demand but some people are still buying due to the holiday season starting next week, said a mainland China-based precious metal trader.
Source – Reuters
Peruvian copper production is expected to remain flat in 2025 for the third straight year, according to the country’s top mining association and industry analysts, as declining ore grades and a lack of new projects cap output.
Peru’s top mining association SNMPE expects the country’s 2025 copper output to hit around 2.8 million metric tons, matching 2023 and what is expected for 2024, as miners contend with poorer-quality resources and development bottlenecks for new projects.
“By 2025, Peruvian copper production is expected to be similar to this year’s expected 2.8 million tons,” said Victor Gobitz, SNMPE’s head, in an interview last week.
Source – Reuters
“Copper is like the second most important thing the Defense Department uses in order to make its weapons systems. And we’re in a situation now where worldwide there’s a glut of copper,” Navarro told Schmitt. “There’s a dumping of copper into our markets. And we’ve lost our ability to both smelt copper, which is taking the ore and getting the raw copper and refine it into the products we need. And it’s a serious thing.”
Source – Independent Journal Review
