Mali gold output jumps 30% in first half, beating forecasts

Mali's industrial gold production rose about 30% in the first half of 2026, surpassing government forecasts and signaling a rebound from a difficult 2025 marked by tensions between the state and miners.

Mali, one of Africa's leading gold producers, has tightened its grip on the mining sector to boost revenues, introducing reforms that have sometimes unsettled miners.

The fallout had weighed on output, as production fell to 42.2 metric tons in 2025 from the record 66.5 tons produced in 2023.

Yet the latest mines ministry data showed industrial gold output reached 23.5 tons between January and June, up from about 18 tons in the same period of 2025 and exceeding the government's forecast of 21.2 tons.

The ministry's industrial production scoreboard did not give reasons for the stronger-than-expected performance and Mali's mines ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The data suggests Mali is on track to meet or exceed its full-year industrial gold production forecast of 43.2 tons.

B2Gold's BTO.TO Fekola mine remained the country's largest producer in the first half, generating 8.85 tons of gold, the ministry figures showed. Barrick’s Loulo operation produced 6.9 tons, already surpassing the 5.5 tons it reported for the whole of 2025.

Other significant contributors included Resolute RSG.AX with 3.0 tons and Allied AAUC.TO with 3.5 tons.

Separately, Mali's Council of Ministers this month granted a large-scale mining permit for B2Gold's Menankoto project, paving the way for the development of a new gold mine.