Online Reporter
Business Reporter
Zimbabwe’s gold deliveries reached 5,11 tonnes in August 2026, a 20,68 percent increase compared to 4,24 tonnes recorded during the same period in August 2025, according to official data released by Fidelity Gold Refinery.
Cumulative gold purchases by FGR reached 31,17 tonnes through August 2026, driven primarily by strong output from small-scale producers.
Small-scale miners delivered 22,38 tonnes over the eight months, accounting for nearly 72 percent of total deliveries. Primary, large-scale producers contributed the remaining 8,78 tonnes.
Small-scale output led the monthly gains, jumping to a year-to-date monthly high of 3,98 tonnes in August.
Quarterly performance metrics show gold delivery momentum accelerating into mid-year, expanding from 9,31 tonnes in the first quarter to 12,09 tonnes in the second quarter before reaching 9,77 tonnes during the first two months of the third quarter.
First-quarter purchases were anchored by artisanal and small-scale miners, who delivered 6,51 tonnes to represent 69,92 percent of the opening quarter’s volume, while primary producers delivered the remaining 2,8 tonnes.
Total purchases jumped by 29,78 percent quarter-on-quarter in Q2, driven by an 8,43-tonne delivery from small-scale producers that accounted for 69,76 percent of the quarterly total, alongside 3,65 tonnes from primary producers.
Third-quarter deliveries reached 9,77 tonnes through July and August, with one month remaining in the quarter, with small-scale miners accounting for 76,1 percent of the partial-quarter output.
Primary producers maintained steady monthly production throughout the eight months, averaging above 1,1 tonnes per month between March and August before peaking at 1,23 tonnes in June.
Zimbabwe produced between 46,7 tonnes of gold in 2025 and generated about US$4,61 billion in export revenue.
The country’s cumulative export earnings for the six months of the year reached US$3,1 billion.
Gold export earnings have been driven primarily by soaring international bullion prices and improved gold deliveries through formal channels.
International gold prices climbed to around US$5 000 per ounce in 2026. Higher prices mean every single ounce produced brings in much more money than before.
Zimbabwe’s gold sector projects production to reach 55 tonnes in 2026, with an official national target of no less than 50 tonnes, building on cumulative deliveries of 31,17 tonnes through August 2026
Gold mining is the primary anchor of Zimbabwe’s economy, driving foreign currency earnings, national currency backing and local employment.
It is Zimbabwe’s top export earner, bringing in billions of dollars and supplying critical liquidity for the national reserves.
Artisanal and small-scale mining, which contributes the bulk of the minerals, supports hundreds of thousands of local families, driving rural and regional economic activity.
The Government reserved small-to-medium gold mining operations (producing under 20 kg per month or with capital under US$15 million) exclusively for Zimbabwean citizens to increase local ownership and curb illicit outflows.
