OREANDA-NEWS  Russia in 2023, despite the sanctions, retained the second place among the largest gold producers in the world with an output of 322 tons according to average estimates, RIA Novosti calculated according to relevant national ministries and associations.

Russia has not disclosed data on gold production in absolute terms since 2022. In 2021, the Ministry of Finance reported that the production of this metal (excluding secondary production from scrap) amounted to 313.8 tons. According to Rosstat, in 2022 production increased by 2.3%, and in 2023, on the contrary, it decreased by 2.5%, based on which last year it amounted to 313 tons.

However, a number of other departments estimate gold production in Russia higher: based on data from the World Gold Council, it amounted to 330.7 tons, the Australian relevant ministry gives an indicator of 332 tons. At the same time, the US Geological Survey gives a more modest estimate of 310 tons.

China, according to the US Geological Survey, maintained its long-term leadership in gold production last year, releasing 370 tons of this metal. Australia, according to its ministry, became the third, faced with a reduction in production by almost 3% to 294 tons. The top five also include Canada and the United States - according to the American Geological Survey, the countries produced 200 and 170 tons of gold.

World gold production last year, according to RIA Novosti calculations, increased to 3,039 tons, which is 1.3% more than a year earlier.

Russia is one of the largest gold exporters in the world. In 2022, the United States, the EU, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, which were on the list of the main buyers of this Russian precious metal, imposed an embargo on its import.