Ethiopia’s gold sector has achieved a remarkable milestone, with the metal surpassing coffee to become the country’s top export for the first time. The metal earned $3.5 billion in the 2024/2025 fiscal year. Interestingly, this boom is being driven not by large industrial mines, but by flexible and low-cost artisanal miners. These small-scale operators, using simple tools and local labor, have thrived by tapping into informal markets for quick cash. In contrast, major corporate producers are struggling with technical constraints, foreign exchange shortages, and bureaucratic delays, often failing to meet their output targets. Despite the national economic pressures of debt and inflation, the artisanal sector’s surge—bolstered by high global prices—provides a crucial silver lining. This dynamic positions artisanal mining as a vital, yet complex, engine for Ethiopia’s economic revival.
Forbes
