Bangkok, Thailand – The gold mining industry is facing challenges in sustaining production growth due to the increasing difficulty in finding new deposits of the precious metal, as reported by the World Gold Council.
John Reade, Chief Market Strategist at the World Gold Council, highlighted that while there was a 4% increase in mine production in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year, overall growth has plateaued since 2016-2018. This trend signals a struggle for the industry to maintain consistent growth levels.
In 2023, data from an international trade association revealed that mine production grew by only 0.5% from the year before. This slow growth follows a pattern of declining annual growth rates in the industry since 2020, when global gold production experienced its first decline in a decade.
Reade emphasized the increasing difficulty in discovering new gold deposits worldwide, as many potential areas have already been explored. Large-scale gold mining projects require substantial financial investment and intensive exploration efforts, often taking a decade or more before a mine is operational.
Exploration for gold deposits comes with low odds of successful discovery, with only about 10% of global findings proving viable for mining. To date, approximately 187,000 metric tons of gold have been mined, with major contributions from countries like China, South Africa, and Australia.
Securing government permits for mining operations has become a lengthier and more challenging process, adding to the complexities of the industry. Additionally, mining projects often require significant infrastructure development in remote areas, increasing operational costs and financing needs.
Amidst these challenges, gold prices have recently hit record highs due to strong demand, particularly from China. The current spot gold price stands at $2,294.3 per ounce, as investors weigh the evolving dynamics of the global gold market.
Overall, the gold mining industry faces a series of hurdles in maintaining production levels and expanding operations, with resource constraints, regulatory challenges, and infrastructure demands shaping the future of gold mining worldwide.