Maputo, May 26, 2025 (Lusa) - Mozambique expects to produce more than 4.1 million carats of rubies in 2025, an increase of 5% over 2024 production, according to government data.
According to the government's economic forecast for 2025, 4,143,832 carats of rubies are expected to be produced in mining concessions in Mozambique from January to December. This is the "product with the greatest weight in the overall structure of precious and semi-precious stones" produced in the country, with 76% of this year's total production destined for export.
"Growth of around 5% is expected in 2025, compared to 2024, due to the increase in the processing plant's capacity" of SLR Mining, according to the same economic and budgetary estimate.
According to previous government data, Ruby production in Mozambique had already skyrocketed in 2024 to almost four million carats, an increase of 46% over the previous year.
"In the precious and semi-precious stones group, the highlight is ruby, which in the period under review recorded a 128% execution rate concerning the annual plan and a growth rate of 46%," reads the document with last year's export results, consulted by Lusa.
Ruby production grew from 2,710,617.70 carats in 2023 to 3,946,506.90 carats in 2024, when the government's target was 3,080,895 carats last year.
According to the document, this growth was due to "the good performance of SLR Mining, which became the largest producer of this mineral resource with the start-up of another processing plant".
"This company was responsible for producing more than 70% of the total of this mineral resource. Another factor is the full resumption of production by Moza Minerals, combined with the fact that Montepuez Ruby Mining carried out intensive excavation in three more highly productive blocks," the document said.
Ruby production in Mozambique fell to 2.7 million carats in 2023, compared to 4.2 million carats in 2022 and five million carats in 2021.
Ruby mining at MRM's mine in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, alone has yielded almost €1 billion since 2012, according to data previously released by Gemfields, which owns 75% of the company.
According to data up to December from the "G Factor for Natural Resources" report, which aims to promote "transparency" on the level of wealth of human resources shared by Gemfields "with the governments of host countries" from the mining, oil, gas, timber and fishing sectors, MRM had total revenues of $151.3 million (€141 million) in 2023.
Since Gemfields acquired 75% of MRM in February 2012, the year mining began, with ruby auctions starting two years later, the mine has accumulated revenues of over $1.055 million (€982.7 million), paying the Mozambican state $257.4 million (€239.7 million) over the same period.
According to the same report, MRM, 75% owned by Gemfields and 25% by Mwiriti Limited, a Mozambican company, paid the Mozambican state $53.2 million (€49.6 million) in royalties and taxes in 2023.
PVJ/ADB // ADB.
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