Zimbabwe’s gold deliveries dropped slightly in May 2025, but the sector is still showing strong growth compared to last year, thanks largely to artisanal and small-scale miners.
According to the latest figures, 3,488.06 kg of gold were delivered to Fidelity Gold Refinery in May, a 9.48% drop from the 3,853.58 kg recorded in April. Despite the month-on-month decline, deliveries were up 27.6% compared to May 2024, when the country recorded 2,734.13kg.
Artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM), who have become the backbone of the country’s gold production, delivered 2,552.10 kg in May — a 12.77% decline from the previous month. Still, the sector has grown impressively, with output up 52.06% year-on-year, highlighting how resilient small producers have remained despite rising costs and unreliable electricity.
Meanwhile, large-scale miners delivered 935.96 kg in May — a slight increase from April but still 11.34% lower than the same period last year. Analysts say the drop shows how formal mining operations are still battling high production costs and ongoing structural issues that have weighed them down for years.
April remains the country’s best month for gold production in 2025 so far, thanks mainly to small-scale miners, who contributed nearly 76% of that month’s output.
In the first quarter of 2025, gold deliveries jumped 40.5% compared to Q1 2024, with ASM output nearly doubling over the same period.
With ASM responsible for more than 65% of Zimbabwe’s total gold output in 2024, the sector continues to drive growth. But experts say it’s not enough to rely solely on small-scale producers. They’re calling for better policies, energy stability, and investment to revive large-scale mining and fully unlock Zimbabwe’s gold potential.
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The post Zimbabwe’s Gold Deliveries Fall in May as Big Players Continue to Struggle appeared first on iHarare News.
