🟡 Sudan’s Gold Production Hits Record Highs Amid War — Yet Vast Majority Smuggled Out
Sudan achieved remarkable gold production levels (peaking at 70 tons in 2025) from 2023–2025 despite relentless conflict — however, a large portion continues to be smuggled, starving the state of vital revenue and powering illicit wartime networks.
Key Facts:
🪙 Production boom: Official gold output plunged to just ~2-6.4 tons in 2023 due to war onset, then surged to ~64 tons in 2024 and reached 70 tons in 2025 — a record rebound driven by artisanal mining expansion.
📉 Smuggling crisis: Estimates indicate 48–80% of production evades official channels; for instance, roughly half was smuggled in 2024, with only a fraction (e.g., ~28 tons exported officially in some reports) captured by the government.
💰 Shadow economy gains: Vast quantities of gold flow illicitly to destinations like the UAE, Egypt, and others, funding armed factions, weapons purchases, and unregulated cross-border trade without benefiting state coffers.
Expert Insight:
On the surface, Sudan’s gold industry shows resilience with surging output amid chaos, but the stark contrast between record production and enormous revenue leakage highlights how ongoing war, fragmented control, and porous borders have transformed this vital resource into a fuel for conflict economies and massive economic loss.
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