Peter's Blog

Last Week in Review: Monday Sept. 30, 2019

Here is a summary of some of the significant economic data/news that came out last week. Third-quarter 2019 new orders for durable goods remain on track for a second annual decline.  August 2019 Real New Orders for Durable Goods showed a monthly gain of 0.2% [1.0% ex-Commercial Aircraft], but an annual decline of 4.9% [down […]

Mine Output Fell Sharply in 3 Top Silver-Producing Countries in H1

Mine output fell significantly in three of the world’s top silver-producing countries through the first half of the year. Peru’s silver production fell 10%, mine output in Mexico fell 4%, and silver production in Chile was down 7%, according to data released by government agencies in those three countries.

Production Plunges for World’s Largest Silver Miner in Q1

The world’s largest primary silver producer reported a plunge in production in the first quarter of the year, continuing a global trend of declining silver output. Total silver production at Fresnillo PLC dropped by 15% in Q1. The company blamed falling mine output on lower ore grades and reduced volume of processed ore.

Is the World Really Running Out of Mineable Gold?

Is the world really running out of gold? According to a report in Deutsche Welle, it just might be.

Global Mine Output Up Slightly in 2018; Shows Continued Signs of Slowing

Global gold mine output marked its 10th year of annual growth but continued to show signs of slowing in 2018, according to the World Gold Council. Gold production rose fractionally by about 1% totaling 3,346.9 tons. That compares with 3,318.92 tons mined in 2017  — a 28-ton increase year-on-year. Meanwhile, global gold demand grew by 4%.

South African Gold Production Drops for 14th Straight Month

Gold output in South Africa fell for the 14th straight month in November. According to Bloomberg, it ranks as the longest streak of monthly declines since 2012. Production fell 14% from a year earlier, Pretoria-based Statistics South Africa said in a statement on its website last week. South Africa once led the world in gold […]

Billionaire Buys Gold for the First Time

Billionaire Sam Zell said he recently took the plunge and bought gold. “For the first time in my life, I bought gold because it is a good hedge,” Zell said during an interview on Bloomberg TV.

South Africa Gold Mine Output Drops 19%

Gold production in South Africa dropped by 19% year-on-year in September, according to a report at Fin24. This continues a trend of monthly gold mine production drops. South African gold output fell by 15% in August and 15.5% in July. The country once led the world in gold production. The precipitous drop in output over […]

Which Countries Produce the Most Gold?

Global mine production fell slightly in 2017, the first drop in mine output since 2008. In fact, gold production has generally increased every year since the 1970s. The drop in 2008 was something of an anomaly, as it occurred at the onset of the 2008 financial crisis. The recent slowdown in mine production is more […]

South Africa Gold Output Down 16% in May; Eighth Straight Month of Decline

South African gold output saw its biggest drop in over a year in May, falling 16.2% year-on-year. This is another sign that the one-time world leader in gold production could be running out of the yellow metal. May’s decline came on the heels of a 5.8% drop in production in April. It was the eighth […]