São Paulo – With prices sky-high, the order is to invest to produce more. Among the companies that explore gold in Brazil, the tendency is to accelerate projects and increase gains with the ore. Over the next five years, US$ 2.4 billion should be turned to projects by companies that operate in the country using the most noble of metals. The figures were disclosed by the Brazilian Mining Institute (Ibram), which, in its studies, shows good perspectives for Brazilian gold. Mainly in the foreign scenery, with the United Arab Emirates among the four main international buyers.
According to the Economic Data manager at the Ibram, Antonio Lannes, the price of gold rose 35% from last year to date, reaching US$ 1,500 per ounce. “In 2007, to have an idea, the price was US$ 800 per ounce,” explained Lannes. “That is, almost 90% of expansion,” he said. That is the reason for company interest in expanding their investment over the next five years.
The greatest appreciation in ores, according to Lannes, is connected to greater demand, boosted by the dollar. “Gold is an investment alternative,” he said. “Today, there are even self-service machines for gold sales,” he said.
That is not to mention several different uses, like gold applied to specific electronic devices, including laptops. “Gold is a metal that may be transformed into thin sheets without breaking,” said Lannes. “In Japan, for example, electronic equipment is always disassembled for removal of gold prior to recycling,” he said.
Another important sector is the jewellery industry. It is for this purpose, in fact, that buyers from the Emirates most seek Brazilian gold. “Due to the volume acquired, four tonnes in 2010, we identified that the jewellery business was the main buyer,” said Lannes.
In the general ranking, the Emirates came in third place among the main clients for national gold, with 12% of the total exported. The two main clients were the United Kingdom, with 45%, and Switzerland, with 32%. This year, according to Lannes, the position should drop a little, with the Emirates ending the period in the fourth rank.
Global ranking
Brazil is the world’s twelfth main producer of gold, with 61 tonnes in 2010. China is the first in terms of production, with 300 tonnes, followed by Australia and South Africa. “With the high demand, we should reach 94 tonnes produced in 2015,” said Lannes.
Of the 61 tonnes of 2010, the country exported 46 tonnes, which meant business of almost US$ 2 billion.
*Translated by Mark Ament
